I think I'm starting to like it here...a little... = )

Week #101 - 109.6 clean weight...112.4 with my heavier clothes on...112.0 official weight - 15 minutes later at the meeting after riding my bike there. What?! How is that possible? This was on the same scale that I weighed on last week and it was bang-on my scale at home. 

But how could I lose 4/10ths of a pound just from riding my bike 2 miles? I did sweat a fair bit but my clothes should've absorbed that and weigh the same. Oh well...I had the same lady weigh me and she didn't give me a hard time since I gained at least a little bit and didn't lose.

I actually saw a green parrot fly out of a palm tree when I was riding to the meeting. At first I thought it was a parakeet but it was WAY too big for that. Then I saw it a little closer and saw it was a parrot. That's kinda neat!

I took some pics on the way home...see the post below  = )

It's been a quiet day today. I didn't get most of the work done I'd planned on but Petey's gone for several days so I always have next week to work too. I love not having the time pressure to do stuff!!

I started reading The Widow of Larkspur Inn again...decided to lay down and read in bed a bit and ended up falling asleep...and waking up with a SPLITTING headache. I know why they call it a "splitting headache" since it feels like your head is splitting open! Today I wished it would split open to relieve the pressure.

I think maybe it came on from riding my bike in the sun. I had my sunglasses on but not my sun hat. To be honest, I wanted to enjoy the breeze in my new shorter hair! I have my hat hanging right near the front door with my sunglasses...need to be more disciplined about wearing it though  = (

I've chatted with Petey quite a bit today...I love being able to do that because it makes it feel like we've been together today. Another blessing from God...internet...chat programs...laptops, iPads, Wi-fi... true blessings!

It was very breezy today and so pleasant. I sat out front awhile and got caught up on some journaling. I kinda fell off the journaling wagon during the move but I really do like having a record to look back on over the years so I want to get back on the wagon.

A couple of the neighborhood kids came and visited awhile...I've been thinking about maybe God has plans to use me to be a blessing to the kids around here. So many of them seem to be on their own after school...

I talked to both mom and dad for awhile...good to hear their voices. 

The Durango wouldn't keep running this morning so that's why I rode my bike to Weight Watchers. Plus, I'd been wanting to anyway. I'd love to ride my bike everywhere instead of driving! I was thinking about church in the morning and then I have a doctor's appointment on Monday. 

They're both within 3 miles of here so the bike is definitely do-able but I'd have to cross some big roads...and neither of those places are good to show up all sweaty. So I was glad Petey diagnosed the problem as the Durango just needing to be driven so I tried again to get it to stay running.

It idled ok so I let it run for about 10 minutes in the driveway and then I made a trip to Wal-mart. It ran just fine there and back so I think I'm good for church in the morning  = )   

I'm going to visit the Reformed Baptist church that was recommended to us by the good folks at Grace Bible Church in Plantation...where we really wanted to attend and had planned on but then God had other plans for us to not live in that area!

We checked out the website of Emmanuel Baptist Church and Petey even listened to a sermon already...he said it was really good! I'm just hoping they sing at least A FEW hymns...oh yeah, I played the piano some today..."I Must Tell Jesus" was one that had been going through my head. How wonderful to be able to sit down at the piano and play for myself! Thanks for the lessons, folks = )

When I was riding my bike to Weight Watchers, I saw a field that looked like it would be GREAT for frisbee for Dingo so that's where we went on our walk tonight. It's only 1/2 a mile away but that worked out nicely for Buddy to be able to go too.

Dingo did AMAZING!!!! I threw the frisbee as far as I could and he totally surprised me a number of times at what he was able to catch and how far and fast he could run to get there in time! He sure was tired coming home...he'll sleep well tonight = )

I also read my Bible, of course!, and did my thankful journal and crocheted some. I'm gonna go crochet a bit more before bed.

Just got done web-camming with my Sweety...so nice to see his face and hear his voice! Nitey-nite, ya'll = ))

Thinking of you...

Thought Petey would enjoy these = )

I rode my bike to Weight Watchers...this was on the way...just a canal but a pretty one!

This is the other side...still haven't seen a single alligator!! hahahahaha

Saw these in Wally-world and thought about my brother, John. I really like how objects remind me of people and give me an opportunity to pray for them = )

A BIG Change Today!

I'm {ME} Again!!

Yes, it's cool enough for a sweater. 

Yes, Petey cut my hair!!

Yes, that's my favorite Norfolk pine tree in the background :)

Yes, I cannot NOT take a goofy picture!

The BEST green olives EVAHHHH!!!

Our first house guests!

Things are coming together = )

Ever since hanging up the baskets in the living room, we've made some other changes, moving furniture around, and the room feels much more spacious, homey and cozy. 

Two of Petey's co-workers came here today...drove in all that rain and flooding...it took them 2 and 1/2 hours to get here rather than the normal 1 hour. 

After eating my homemade pizza with fresh red peppers and these INCREDIBLE green olives from Costco (will post pic in a minute...it IS much easier to post pics from my phone!) and having snacks and coffee, I don't think they minded the extra drive-time too much.

We did a fair amount of cleaning and freshening up before they got here. They said they didn't smell cigarette smoke AT ALL when they walked in...YAY!!! SUCCESS!!

We had planned on going to the Palm Beach County Courthouse to look up our official plot before we start work on our garage. We spent the morning measuring and I got out the graph paper and started laying things out on it. LUV the graph paper  =))

Anyhow, Petey's co-worker, Tom, called and asked to borrow an old Windows laptop and wanted to come up and get it so we post-poned our trip to the courthouse.

Which worked out fine because it poured rain off and on most of the day so that would've been nasty to be driving in. And since it took them so much longer to get here than expected, I had lots of extra time to read my Bible and then crochet.

We just took the dogs for a neighborhood walk tonight instead of the trail walk. The trail walk is far for Buddy but he can handle the neighborhood walk. Plus Petey was having a good time examining everyone's carport/porch to get building ideas.

We've talked to a number of contractors and even scheduled appointments for 2 of them to come give us estimates but they never showed up. We've done this kind of work ourselves before so I was wanting us to build the structure but hire the cement floor poured.

We started watching do-it-yourself videos for pouring concrete and then Petey came up with some better ideas for flooring that would be easier and I liked them better anyhow.

But before we could head out to the courthouse, Tom called so we ended up staying home, rearranging, cleaning, spiffing and cooking.

We're thinking about going in the morning but Petey has to leave to go fly about 4pm so we'll have to see how things go after we get up. Plus we're supposed to have more rain through the morning...

Now that the living room has more space, I have the option of doing my Leslie Sansone Walk at Home DVDs again! I've missed her even though I do totally love the trails around here = )

Time for bed!

SomeBuddy put himself to bed early...

Country hangin' baskets!

Do I want a stronger faith?

Yes, absolutely!

But in going over some notes I took during Dr. Shockley's messages "God's Answer to the Thorn of Affliction...Part 1 and 2", I am reminded that faith in God is often built through trials, tribulations, and afflictions.

Oh boy...so I asked myself, "am I willing to go through trials, tribulations, afflictions...physical afflictions...if the end result is a stronger faith in God, a deeper trust, a surer foundation?"

I guess it's not so much a question of "am I willing" because these things are coming to me no matter what. It's just a result of living in this sinful, fallen world. But do I have the same attitude that Paul had...that these are light and momentary afflictions and matter not when viewed through eternity's lens.

Today was a tough day for me. A struggle to keep my mind and emotions where they should be. 

I recently read the story of Jonathan going up against the Philistines, just him and his armor-bearer. Did I tell ya'll about that already? Now THAT'S faith! So I've been asking God to give me a faith like Jonathan's...

...but if that faith will only come through trials...or if that faith can only be tested through tribulations...maybe I'm not ready...

Back in November...wow, that's 6 months ago!! It's almost 6 months to the day that Petey did his last flight for Evergreen! When this whole life-change thing started, I told Petey that God had enrolled us in Faith University and we were going to be good students and pass with all A's  = )

I had the scenario all planned out in my head...it would take awhile but Petey would find another job and then things would get back to normal. Maybe not exactly how they were before...maybe a different salary or a different schedule or something like that...but near enough to what we were used to.

Wow...was I WRONG! Actually, I was really wrong to plan out our future when that's God's domain and His alone. But I planned the trials and tribulations to be of a sort that would stretch my faith but not shake my world TOO much.

My world has experienced an earthquake of record-setting Richter-scale proportions! And to some reading this, you might be thinking, "so what? what's the big deal? why are you being so dramatic? you just had to move...no big deal! at least Petey has a job and you're not homeless and stuff".

I would agree with you. My logical side (yes, I DO have one!) tells myself that kind of stuff all the time! But my heart, my emotional side, is struggling mightily. Not just for what we left behind and the adapting to a new home life...it goes deeper than that. It goes so deep I don't even understand it and I don't know how to deal with it to make it better except to realize that my faith is weak and if it were stronger, I would not be so shaken by this. Or by anything if I had a faith like Jonathan's and Paul's!

So I do ask God to strengthen my faith even though I know what I'm asking. And I'm working hard to "count it all joy" as I go through this time of trial. And I'm taking every opportunity to spend time in God's Word because that is where He reminds me of HIS faithfulness over and over and over.

And I spend time in prayer, lifting up those who are also going through a time of testing or trial or affliction. And I'm still keeping my thankful journal. Every day there are more blessings to be thankful for than I have space to write them down!

And now it's off to bed...I didn't sleep well last night and haven't felt well today so I'm hoping tonight's sleep will be more restful. Petey should get home about 3am...

4 mile run to start the day!

YAY!  I did 4 miles at an average 11:24 per mile pace. Walked some in the first 1/2 mile, then ran with no walk breaks for the next 1.5 miles. Did one running mile in 10:08 so I guess I haven't lost all my running fitness! 

Had a light bulb moment when I realized the Publix (grocery store chain here in Florida) at the 2 mile point might have a water fountain...they did!! Got a nice long cold drink of water and then headed out again.

Walked for a bit then started running again and ran another mile straight with no walk breaks. This one was harder...and slower...I was getting tired. Then ran and walked the last .8 to home.

I didn't wear my normal running clothes because I only expected to do a bit of running here and there. But the first long running bit felt SO good that I just kept going! I wore running shorts for the first time in years...felt a little funny since they're quite a bit shorter than my running skirts.

Then I saw a girl in Publix who had on shorts WAAAAAAAAAAY shorter than mine... indecently short in my opinion. I don't want to see ANY part of ANYBODY'S bum, thank you very much!

Anyhow, I had a really good time, am looking forward to doing it again tomorrow except not 4 miles, and will wear my full-on running clothes = )   The other thing I'm feeling is more tired than usual. I'm fighting the urge to lay down cause I know I'll fall asleep and I don't want to!

I unpacked 3 or 4 more boxes in the craft room. I ordered some more banker boxes but these are stackable drawers...not ones to go on the metal shelf. I wanted to get the boxes unpacked in the corner where the new banker box stack will go.

I also put my House Mouse stamps out on one of the shelves Petey hung up for me yesterday. I love how objects remind me of people. I totally enjoyed thinking about Phyllis Dunavent while I positioned the House Mouse stamps. And then the guinea pig stamp reminded me of Carol Crabtree.

What a blessing to have a memory and be able to attach that fond memory to an object I treasure...along with the person I treasure! My new home is filled with wonderful memories through my cherished items!

I was thinking about this this morning as I was reading the Bible verse in the card box that Lori Schweers made me over 10 years ago (almost 10 years ago???). Giving someone a gift of God's Word is the very best gift you can give them. His Word is active and alive and WILL change your life when you read it, submit to it and obey it!

I have a couple plaster plaques that Petey made with his dad when he was a boy. My gramma had the same kind of plaques in her house. The plaques are meant to be painted and I've always MEANT to paint them but never got around to it. NOW I WILL!! I want those verses hanging on the walls somewhere in this house as a reminder to me of what God is speaking to me and also as a reminder of Petey's childhood and his father. I just need to ask Petey what kind of paint I'm supposed to use to paint them  = )

I've been crocheting in between working in the craft room. I'm gonna have to make dog blankets or something cause I'm not seeing a big need for scarves here. They don't keep their stores, offices, churches, etc. so freezy-cold like they do in Texas! Right now I'm working on the shawl for my mom. 

I do need to do the dishes and I'll be taking the boys for a walk tonight. Petey's gone on a flight and won't be home until Wednesday or so. 

That's all for now...I'll try to post some pics of my treasures after awhile!

I love growing things =)

The bush beans are sprouting!

Isn't that fun?!

I thank God for allowing me to have a part in His marvelous creation =)