1. God
2. View of the river valley
3. Bird songs
4. Cool evenings and cooler nights
5. Wildflowers
6. Feeling better in the morning
7. Family breakfast
8. Iced tea with mint leaves from the garden
9. Remembering to breathe
“If I were much wiser, and much more patient, and had much greater concentration, I could sit in silence in my chair, look out my windows at a green tree and the blue sky, and know that breathing is a gift; that a breath is sufficient for the moment; and that breathing air is breathing God.” – Andre Dubus, “Sacraments,” in Meditations from a Movable Chair

Mom, I have to work in Cleveland Friday. Boo! 

But then she’s on vacation. Woo Hoo!

6:00 a.m flight. We will be up at a quarter till 3. Glory be!

Making a meal for Battered women’s shelter. We have a plan! Whoopee!

Grand daughter arrives Saturday. Joy!

Still some work to do! Oh boy!

I didn’t break Erika’s stove. Whew!

So much to do and so little time. Phew!

May every response that comes out of my mouth be a tribute to my amazing,astounding brimful life! La Chaim!

My son turns 22 years old at 12:18 tomorrow morning.  He is going to Valley Fair with friends. :)

Being patient at work.

Beautiful weather.

Love.

Good support system.

Watching a dear eat leaves up on the hill.

Getting off early from work.

The week going quickly.

Looking in my dining room and seeing a new ceiling.  It needs to be painted but I will take it!

God.

A.A. and my church.

A cat that decides 6:00 a.m. is the time for loving. Rise and shine Mama!

Paint on walls of bedroom looks great. Paint on the floor doesn’t matter.

Two walls papered in the bathroom. Saving the hard wall for when I’m sharp. Glad to have times I am.

Finding towels and wash clothes in the right shade of purple. Towel rack isn’t up but we have towels.

Perfect temperature out this morning. There was a hoodie advisory yesterday.

Everyone is counting down to something. Anticipation is fun.

The jobs that pay for the things I want. The people who I work for.

The morning glory is blooming. Purple on  the porch and fuchsia in the garden. From the same pack of seeds.

A good book. A good nap. A good Hubby who had made pulled pork. Have a good day!

Patience at work.

A nice chair to relax in after a busy day at work.

My son.

God.  

My pets.  Love their sweet faces.

Getting off early from work.  

Love.

Good coffee and food.  

Making my 12,000 steps today and then some.  

Not over eating at the taco bar today.

Just finished sorting,folding,keep or donate , the entire linen closet of my mother in law Audrey (she’s 87 now). Sheets, pillowcases, curtains of all kinds and colors. As my husband shuts down the old house so that it can be sold, certain thoughts come to mind. Grateful for a family by marriage that was always loving and supportive of the young couple……grateful for spaghetti dinner and the best meatballs ever made….grateful for Christmases spent at Grandma’s that were all about the kids….Grateful for her acceptance of my night shift life and the naps I would sometimes take during visits….Grateful for the occasional money that would secretly change hands during visits…Grateful for leftovers sent home that meant a meal that a tired working mom did not have to make…Grateful for the grandparents that they became…. Grateful for the memories of her rooting for her favorite SF49’rs. The sight, feel and smells of those linens brought so many memories and they are good. Amen

Very Grateful for

God’s creativity

The 3 awesome bosses at my three jobs. Not one of them micro-manages

That brief time on summer mornings, right before the heat increases and scorches.

air-conditioning

My patience with Windows Valdomort 10

Figuring out the shortcut for strikethroughs  in Google Docs

D. and K. safely traveling to Namibia

the emancipated playtime of the 7 dogs on our street right before dusk

Garrett’s wise advice regarding a job interview for me

Getting full on salad (who knew?)

“I will always choose a lazy person to do a difficult job… because he will find an easier way to do it.” ~Bill Gates

(Today is my daughter Jane’s birthday. I woke up early and scenes from her life began floating through  my head like viewmaster images.)

How proud we were to be expecting! My mother said “my baby’s having a baby!”

July 25th- Christmas in July you slowly and leisurely made your way into the world.

An easy baby content with her thumb-thumb. An active toddler. An early talker. You liked to run  away and talk,talk,talk.Arguing was even more fun.

Brothers arrived and you were the princess. Daddy’s girl. The pride of the grand parents.

No car did not keep us from doing everything! Story hour, Summer reading club,swimming at the Nat, baseball at Bolich. preschool at the Y, wading pool at Oak Park,crafts at Dewitt, movie nights with sno-cones.

So many school memories.Off to school in a Strawberry Shortcake dress, Goldilocks, Sugar Plum Fairy,floor hockey, National Honor Society, Key Club, graduations. Best friend Sarah.

Surprise! A sister! Someone to dress. Another surprise! A niece! More love!

Jamie loved by all. Now and then.

Dave is the one. White dress,calla lilies and promises. A wet and wonderful wedding.

A phone call that cause us to shriek. A baby. My baby is having a baby!

Thanks for the laughter. Thanks for the tears. Thanks for all the memories throughout the years! Happy Birthday!

Getting early hours at work this week.  I like my later shift but it is nice to have a change once in awhile.

My pets seeming happy to see me and get out of my bedroom when I got home.

Patience with another coworker at work.

Beautiful weather.

God in my life.

Good coffee and food.

My A.A. program to keep me on track.

Good shows like “The Andy Griffith Show” to enjoy after work. :)  The Oldies but goodies!!

Drama Sunday had no drama. No stumbling or bumbling.

It was a wonderful worship with acting,recitation,poetry, improv, singing, humor and pathos and even rap.

In one week we created a meaningful Message. Love in Action -a call to action.

We built a city of man. Blocks reminding us to be loving and kind.

The twenty five people who took the time to share a vision.The guidance of our directors.

Thank you Gabe, for your solo. (A Beautiful City from Godspell)

It was also Christmas in July at coffee hour. Christmas cookies,rice krispy treats cut into shapes, red and green grapes with a snowman decoration and snowman plates.Spirits were bright as we sang Christmas songs.

God created us to His satisfaction . We are made to serve ,made for action.                  Through this worship may we come to understand that we are His feet, His eyes,His ears, His voice and His hands .                                                                                                                                                       Be with those who are burdened . Be with those who share that load. May you always guide us as we travel down Your road.                                                                                                                            M.E Neitz

Amen!