Rise and Shine

Are you a morning person?  Do you rise before the sun for the sheer joy of being alive and eager to meet the new day?  Do you strap on your running shoes and head out for that predawn marathon run before actually starting your day?

Me neither.

By nature I am not a morning person.  I do not hop out of bed raring to meet the day.  I am not cheerful or energetic.  I stagger to the kitchen to begin that first cup of coffee.

Recently I read an article dedicated to us non-morning people.  Instead of telling us it was okay to sleep in, the author suggested we get up earlier then necessary. 

That didn't sound good. 

I continued to read the rest of the article anyway.  The author's reasoning for the extra early wake up?  We would have extra time to slowly and leisurely adjust to the beginning of a new day.

Now that sounded more like something I could handle.  And, it does have its perks.  I set my alarm earlier, make the coffee, sit down to enjoy my morning cup of coffee as I read morning devotions, and catch up with online news.  By the time I need to activate the rest of the household, I'm ready.

State of the Union Address

Tonight was President Obama's State of the Union Address.  Since we no longer have TV, I made sure that I had logged on to CNN early enough that I would be able to watch the speech on my computer.

Hubby and I sat there and watched the parade of political big wigs getting their camera time as they made their way to their seats.

Next came the Supreme Court in their solomn black robes, and I recalled the S of the U Address when Obama really lamblasted the Court over some decision they had just made.  Were they nervous about coming this year?

Then the President's Cabinet made their entrance.  I suppose I should feel guilty, but the only cabinet member I knew was Hillary.

Finally, with all the handshaking and fanfare of a campaign production, President Obama entered the room.  It took him a long time to make it to the diaz where he would give his speech.  But he made it, and the audience gave him the obligatory applause and ovations.

Now, we can get down to the business at hand.  President Obama begins his address to the nation.

And I fall asleep.

Who Knew?

They say that hindsight is 20/20.  Looking back, we can see the things we couldn't see looking ahead.  Sometimes it is a very good thing that we don't know what the future holds for us.  If we knew what awaited us down the road, few of us would have willingly left childhood.

Tonight I sit and think about 2 high school classmates.  It's been 40 years since I have seen them, but the wonders of Facebook closes the gaps in time and miles and brings us back together.

You know this couple.  He was the popular jock, she was the pretty cheerleader.  And they were a hot item.  Their high school romance blossemed into life long love that found them happily married, raising a family, and enjoying the benefits of chosen careers.

Then came the diagnosis.  No longer would he be playing sports.  ALS had him dependant on his high tech wheelchair, and the loving care of his family.  Life suddenly was not what they had planned for themselves.  Yet they persevered.  Their love was strong, and their faith in God even stronger.  They were shining examples for others to see.  They gave glory to God through all the hardships.

Yesterday's Facebook post brought cries of dismay from all of us.  While this couple was away, their house caught fire.  Everything was lost, including their two beloved dogs.  What an aweful thing to happen to two wonderful folks who are already dealing with difficulties.  You can imagine the stress the family must have been experiencing yesterday afternoon.

This morning's Facebook brought more bad news.  That energetic, happy-go-lucky cheerleader from high school days, who lovingly cared for the needs of her husband, found the loss of her home a bit more than she could physically bear.  She suffered a heart attack last evening and now was hospitalized in the ICU.

I look at this couple who had everything going for them, and it pains me to see how life can be so cruel.  But we know it is true.  The world is a sinful place, and bad things happen to good people.

One thing we all know for sure.  While we are unsure, God is not.  He knows exactly what is happening.  Before the world began, God knew us by name and called us to be His.  He knew there would be crosses to bear.  But He set the example for us to follow, and He promised to always be with us.  Ultimately all this will be for our eternal good.

How comforting to know that we can raise our prayers to God's throne of grace, not only for ourselves, but for others as well.  God hears our prayers and understands our pain.   He lovingly answers our prayers in a way that He knows is best for our eternal welfare.  We need only trust in Him.

God be with you Steve and Diane.  May He give you the strength and comfort you need at this time.  You are in our prayers.

Saturday Night

Oh, those Saturday Nights can be so wild and crazy!  (If you are young enough.)  At our age, Hubby and I tend to spend our Saturday nights sacked out on the couch resting our weary bones.  In fact, right now I am on one end of the couch blogging away with my little netbook computer, and Hubby is on the other end of the couch reading our Nook.  We got the Nook as a joint birthday present from our children.  I haven't gotten a chance to use it yet.  I just get to see the email notices telling of another book purchase he has made.

Well, it keeps him out of trouble.  And I like my cute little netbook.  So much for exciting Saturday night rituals, eh?!

Saturdays tend to be busy days for us.  Today was no different.  We spent several hours at church helping Pastor with some snarky computer issues.  Hubby's the techie, I'm the one who is suppose to run off the bulletins, the monthly newsletter, the calendar, and the annual church report for tomorrow's service.  Which I can't, because the computer network is having a hissy and won't send the print jobs to the printer!  Oh the joys of technology. 

After finishing at church, we visited with the grandchildren.  Baba had a special invitation to play Candy Land with Lydia.  If you have never played Candy Land as a child, or with a child, you are missing a great treat.  I played trucks with Pete.

So, here we sit on Saturday night.  Too pooped to pop.  Might as well call it a night.  Tomorrow is the Lord's Day! 
God bless.

Things You Learn at the Debates

Hubby and I have enjoyed tuning in to the Republican debates the last few months.  Face it, there is a debate airing almost as often as our favorite TV dramas.  We've learned quite a bit about each of the candidates during the debates.

I absolutely love the way Newt hands it right back to the media.  He doesn't let them trap him with any of their questions.  Questions that are meant to trap him.  You go Newt!

At first I thought Ron Paul was a bit 'over the hill' when it was his turn to comment on questions.  He would ramble on and on, and I could never find any sense in his responses.  But after listening through several debates, one could start to understand him.  It was like becoming accustom to the chatterings of a toddler.  He does have some good points.

I feel a partiality toward Mitt.  I grew up in Michigan under the governorship of his dad.  Now I couldn't tell you anything about  either Romney as governor; just that I was surprised to hear they were still talking about a "Govenor Romney".  But I have come to the conclusion that Mitt seems to be a very nice man.  He plays well with others.  Even his Republican opponents.  I like that.

Now, about Rick... I just don't know.  I agree with what he stands for.  I commend him on his issues.  But, there is something about him personally that just irks me.  He picks on others, and he blows his own horn.  Two traits I never did cotton to.

Is it possible to take all the good points of each candidate and put them all together to form one? 

I'm sure glad that God knows already who will win and what will happen!

Rewards of the Day

It's evening.  The drapes are drawn, the lights are low, and the house is clean and quiet.  I love this time of day.  Even though it is snowing and blowing and a tad below zero outside, it is warm and cozy inside my little house.

The rewards of the day?  I worked a bit, scurrying around this afternoon, washing dishes and putting things away.  Just so I could sit down in the evening and enjoy myself.  No guilt about undone chores.  What I can't see, doesn't exist.

Simple is good.

Oh, The Misery of Defeat

It took us about 18 years to become Packer Football "fans".  And by "fans" I mean "folks who are somewhat interested in the happenings of the sports team".  We lived in Wisconsin nearly 20 years before moving to Minnesota.  It was in Minnesota that watching the Packers play became a social event with our daughter and son-in-law.

Son-in-law is high tech.  Daughter is anti-TV. They have a computer and a projector and a big white livingroom wall to show selected movies, PBS shows, and children's programs.  It works well for them...until there is a Packer game on TV.

Now Hubby and I were living close by in a nice apartment complex complete with cable TV.  We could get the Packer games.  Suddenly we were hosts to family Packer Parties.  It became an enjoyable social gathering of family.

Three generations of Packer fans.  Two-year-old Pete loved to sit with his Dad and Baba and 'watch' the game, yelling TOUCHDOWN whenever things got exciting.  The ladies in the family were off to the side otherwise occuppied, and occasionally checking in on the score.

Oh, yes we had fun.

Yesterday was our last Packer gathering for the year.  Hubby and I had moved into a little house out in the woods.  Little house as in 'no room for the big ole clunky TV'.  Out in the woods as in 'no affordable TV hook-up'.  But with the right set of rabbit ears we could pull in FOX. So for the last Packer game yesterday, Hubby hauled the TV in from the garage, set it up on the coffee table,  and prepared for our Packer Party.

The grandkids had fun getting into all sorts of things at Nana and Baba's house.  The women folk kabitzed, and the men watched in horror as their team fell apart on the field.  Oh dear, our team won't go on to the Super Bowl.

But all is not lost.  We will come up with other excuses for a social get-to-gether now that Packer season is over.  Tomorrow night in fact, we will be gathering for the "Tuesday Night Bible Workshop" Party.  There is life beyond sports!

Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy...

I love clearance racks, clearance tables, clearance corners, clearance piles.

"Hi, my name is Nana, and I am a clearance sale-aholic."

While I have found many great deals on those big 'end-oh-season' clearance sales, the clearance sales I really get excited over are the unknown ones.  You know, you walk into a store to browse, and way back in a corner there is a rack of things that didn't sell - on clearance.

Not to change the subject, but I also have a 'thing' for tote bags. (They work great in connection with shopping clearance sales.)  The other day I was browsing online, and came across tote bags for sale from a well known store.  Beautiful!  Quality workmanship!  Practical!  Just what I have been looking for!!! 

Uh-Oh, $40.00 for a tote?  Plus shipping?! 
No.  Of course I checked their 'clearance page'. 
That had some totes for $29.99... 
But still, too much. 

I mentioned it to Hubby, as in "I have a birthday coming soon, do you think...?"
His reaction was "But you do such a good job of sewing things like that!"
Yah, but, canvas is expensive.

Until yesterday.  While shopping for something else, I passed a rack that I always knew was there, but never stopped to look.  I looked.  Guess what I found hanging on that ignored rack -

You betcha!  Canvas!

 For only a few dollars apiece, I could get canvas remnants large enough to sew three tote bags similar to the one I saw online.

I'm happy.  I can make the kind of tote bag I have been wanting.
 Hubby is happy.  It didn't cost him a fortune.
(And sewing the bags will keep me occupied and out of trouble.)

Gotta love those clearance sales!

The First Step

Hello.  Welcome to my little purple corner of the world.  Interesting title for a blog, don't you think?  Makes you wonder about the content.  Maybe it's politically based - you know - Tea Parties and Elephants do sound a bit Republican in nature.  It might be comical in scope.  What could be more hilarious than watching an elephant lumber about in a quaint little tea shop?  Could be a representation of extremes.  There have been folks who might label me as extreme...

But really, the name just popped into my head as I was trying to come up with a url address and blog title that has not already been used.  I have lots of strange ideas popping into my head every now and then.  If you come back, I might share some of them with you!

See you around!