But those who trust in the Lord for help will find their strength renewed. They will rise on wings like eagles; they will run and not get weary; they will walk and not grow weak.Isaiah 40:31

The Sun Has Set

Friday, December 3, 2010 10:32 PM, EST
Hey, (Rodney here)
When this all started I remember a conversation with Pastor Ed from our church. We were new to each other and I don’t think he knew I was a runner or that I understood things better if you explained them with comparisons. He said; “This is going to be a marathon, not a sprint.”
How right he was. It’s been a long hard marathon. One that Julie ran with such grace and dignity.
She finished first in her division December 3, 2010 at 6:36 p.m. The street was filled with family, friends and others that have gone before her cheering as she crossed the line.
Well done good and faithful servant! The girls and I are so very proud of you. Now rest and enjoy the prize. We love you!
We will let you all know the service times when they become available. We love you and again thank you for your support

ON MY KNEES

I have not posted in months but today I am asking for prayers for these beautiful people.

Julie is a 48 year old friend who was diagnosed August 2009 with pancreatic cancer. Her daughters Hanna & Claire are 17 & 13. Rodney is her husband of 19 years.

This is an entry from their CaringBridge site from yesterday 11/9/10.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010 7:29 PM, EST
Hi, (Rodney here)
Hanna, Claire and I just returned home after visiting Julie at Mercy Fairfield Hospital. She was admitted yesterday after Dr. Crane saw her in his office. He could tell things weren’t going well and ordered the CT scan to be done Monday instead of two weeks from now.
This morning he gave us the results and I’m sorry to say the cancer is… Well, it’s bad.
We wanted time as a family to talk, cry and even laugh before we shared our bad news. We decided that her quality of life is more important than fighting any longer. (Julie was actually concerned that she would be letting you all down if she “gave up” or didn’t continue “fight harder.”)
Not only is Julie the most smoking hot woman I know, she’s also the toughest. She fought hard but it was never a fair fight. Hanna, Claire and I asked her that she give us whatever she has left and stop fighting.

PLEASE PRAY THE DAY AWAY.

Back to School

Back to School 4 & 6th Grade!

homesick

Well this week I had two visitors from Texas come see me and I think I am officially a bit home sick.

So, not so much for San Antonio, but for Mexican food!

We talked about it several times in several ways and boy, my tummy is growling thinking about it.

Ok, I am hungry, need a taco.

summer

Hallux Rigidus - Gone

Healing has begun, more painful than I thought, but it is getting better each day.
Just want to rip the dressings off and shave my leg!
Hobble On!!

Well, here are before photos of my poor feet.

I am having a procedure tomorrow on the left one called

"Ostectomy of the 1st metatarsal head for hallux rigidus"

Say a prayer it works!

Blog-cation

I guess you could say I have been on a BLOG-Cation. no real reason other than life has been busy and have not stopped long enough.

So, since last month, let's see....

Spring Has Sprung and so have spring allergies. Now we have rain and it hopefully will wash the rest away. Colors this spring were very very beautiful!

I attended our churches women's retreat and had a wonderful & relaxing weekend. Spirit filled!

Visited the Zoo over spring break, that was a bunch of fun. Had Granddad and Barbro here for a visit and that was great too.

Celebrate my 13th anniversary and enjoyed a nice evening and fabulous dinner at Jeff Ruby's....YUMMY. Hubby has planned a getaway weekend for us too....look forward to that surprise!

Soccer season is more than half over.... amd has been a challenge. Girls are in a league where everyone on the competing teams is 2-3 years older on every team....we were place wrong....some are taller than me, seriously. Girls have stood their ground and TRIED....lost every game so far, but we are not giving up. It has helped them learn and grow in the sport.

Went on a couple field trips for school and learned a lot about our little community and the history here, very interesting!!!

I have been elected to two boards for next year and was asked to be moderator in training for deacons at our church for the next year as well. Also working on school supply sales for Fall and helping with a few other things. Keeping busy.

As summer approaches, we win end our year of piano with a recital June 6th, a circus theme! Should be fun....both of the girls have come a long way...we are very proud. Also have fun and field day and spring choir concerts to look forward to.

Hubby is busy working and working and working and working. Happy and working!

Life is all in all very good. Having outpatient surgery on my left foot for hallux-rigidus, should be ok in 10 days! crossed fingers on the speedy recovery.

Happy last month of school all.....until next time!

For Roy

Wanted to see if you are reading today!

I Miss Texas

(thanks Bill Spinks)

BlogTrotting

I moved to Ohio almost 2 years ago. I was asked to be a feature BLOGTROTTING and say great things about where I am from. This is an easy one and a hard one.

You see, I am from Texas. And if I were still in Texas I would have and easy time coming up with lots to do, things to see, lovely wildflower photos from the spring in Texas. But I am from OHIO!

I am from Wyoming Ohio to be specific.

I live in a house that is 121 years old. It is a 4 story house, only the second multi level home I have ever lived in. (Good for the butt muscles.) Wyoming is a charming historic area 11 miles north of Cincinnati. It is a lot like Mayberry. We have Gomer the police man and Aunt Bea around the corner. (real names would never be revealed)

My girls walk to school, the library, parks, friends, the bakery, the Half Day Cafe, the church and many other places. We have street festivals and summer concerts on"The Green" . It is a wonderful place to live and raise a family.

In Cincinnati, many people (most except my family) would tell you that you MUST eat Skyline Chili. Well, they are wrong.....so wrong. It is NOT chili for one thing, and it is pretty darn nasty for another. There are plenty of Fish Frys during Lent however, so try one of those instead!

Cincinnati sits on the Ohio River. It is a beautiful Downtown area and the city as a whole has a ton of parks and green spaces to enjoy. The Zoo and Botanical Gardens as well as Krohn Conservatory and Eden Park are beautiful. There are several museums, the TAFT is my favorite. But the night life is not something I have explored yet though, old married folk here.

If I were going to take you on a driving tour, I would suggest you get comfortable. It is a rather spread out city. From the Eastside to the Westside there is much ground to cover. North and South also. Eastsiders are different than Westsiders and being a Texan, I do not fit either catagory......they are the ORIGINAL Cincy folks. Rivals!

We get concerts, plays, culture, religious diversity, ethnic diversity, lots of ethnic resturants and things to do. For a family especially, there are so many familiy friendly events and outings.

Weather is not too bad either. Lots of pretty colors in Spring and Fall, mild enough Summers and Winters have not killed me yet, although a little more sunshine would not hurt anyone.

All and all, I would say if you are trotting along Hwy 71 or 75 sometime, a stop in Cincinnati or even Wyoming Ohio, might be worth the time!!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Birthday

Well, today is my 47th Birthday. I have not done a blog post with words in a few weeks. I have been looking back through what I have written this past few months, weeks.....and I reflect on the post I did at New Years, realizing that I am not keeping up with my end of the bargain I made with myself. Oh well. The year is not over yet!!!!

I will say this.....I am now 47. I am pretty healthy(not totally). I am very happy, very lucky and EXTREMELY blessed.
I have too much (more than someone should) in my life. I have an amazing family, loving husband-too loving, most of the time, I also have two daughters that are the best gifts I have ever received. I have a mother who I admire and a sister who I thank God for and a father (who is with the angels in heaven) who did the very best he could all his life. I have friends who are too good for me, people in my life who really like (and love) me and the chance to sleep in a warm home and have a great meal three times a day. I need or want for nothing.

Life is a blessing every single day. I pray it continues and thank God for the 47 years I have had on this earth.

I have done things I should not have done, been places I should not have been, I have regretted things and would not do some of those things over but would change only a few things if given the chance. All in all, it is what I would have hoped my life would be. I am the luckiest woman alive and I firmly believe God has been responsible for all my blessings.

Thanks to everyone in my life....everyone....even my enemies.....for without them, I would not be who I am today. My favorite scripture is Matthew 5:48..."Be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect" which comes after the loving our enemies part in Matthew. I live this as best I can.

So, Happy Birthday to me. May all the days I have left in this life be as good and blessed as the ones I have already had. And thanks to God and everyone for being in my life.....I am blessed.

"It's All Good"





And here is my birthday aside........We share a birthday, I hope I look better at 50 than she does!


According to Mattel lore, Barbie's full name is Barbie Millicent Roberts. A press release from 2009 said, in part, "Barbie doll -- Barbie Millicent Roberts -- was 'born' on March 9, 1959, in (fictional) Willows, Wisconsin." March 9th of 1959 was the date that the doll was first introduced at the annual New York Toy Fair.

more snow photos

Ihope I do not post anymore snow photos from 2010

SNOW SNOW SNOW

no words needed!

Everyone has too much of something, whether it's time, talent or treasure. Everyone does have their own half, you just have to find it. --Hannah Salwen

A few from my window

God's Beauties!