Time

Time stops for no man... or woman or baby for that matter! Wasn't is just yesterday when I was cuddling little Titus the day he made his debut to the world? Now look at him! Four months later this cutie has grown into a happy, big, 20 lb boy. It feels like I get a good biceps workout every time his mommy brings him over for a visit.Time seem like it is just getting away from me lately. I haven't has enough time in my day to get everything done that I've wanted to. I just realized there are quite a few things in the last month I haven't even had time to blog about. That being said I am trying to make the most of everyday.

Spending time with family and friends has become a big priority in my life

Spending time with friends at work

Spending time with new friends in the park after work

Spending time with church friends

Spending time with family

I feel very blessed to have the time right now to enjoy it as much as possible. So here's a little bit of a recap of the past three weeks or so... The week before Easter if baked and decorated a bunch of cookies for family and friends. I'll try and post the recipe soon! Can I just say I love decorating these type of cookies!

Easter weekend got together with family to celebrate my beautiful niece's 17th birthday. Speaking of time... When did she get to be that grown up?

Then it was a quick trip back home to celebrate Easter Sunday at church and spend some time with some dear friends later that day. We enjoyed a delicious brunch followed by some fun games of croquet and bocce. Shhhhh... don't tell anyone but I came from behind and beat the boys at croquet!

Here's Mom and baby Savannah

Enjoying a game of bocce after brunch.

Then Mom and G were off to Italy for two weeks. Yes, I tried to contain my jealousy and be happy for them! I am so happy Mom got to go and I can't wait to hear all about her adventures when I pick her up at the airport tomorrow.

Don't forget to make the most of your time and every precious hour and minute in each day!

Happy Mother's Day

This year Mom got to spend Mother's Day in Italy with my sister Grace. I can't wait to hear all about her adventures and what she thought about seeing all the places I love when she arrives back home later this week. As I was thinking about her today I can only feel that I have been very blessed with a wonderful and godly mom. No, she is not perfect but she has been a wonderful example of a wife and mother. So here's to you! Fell in love and followed dad to a place that was strange and foreign...Raised a whole handful of kids and still managed to always look stylish... Taught me how to read...Got that nasty bug out of my eye...You always had a heart that was humble, willing to serve, and thinking of others needs before your own. For these things and many, many more...I love you Mom!

Fire on the ridge

Brush fires are just not the thing you want to see when you live up in the hills.

Here is what I saw as I was driving home around 8 PM this evening. It is always a little scary to see this especially when it is so close by. The sky was filled with five or six news helicopters and two water dropping aircraft that were hitting their target right on. Thanks to all the firefighters for doing a great job!

A happy list and a cute boy!

My Happy List for the Week (and it's only Tuesday!):

1. I got my taxes all done last night


2. Happy I'm actually getting a refund.


3. Haven't gotten one of those in years!


4. Hung out with my friend Jim & Zorro at the park yesterday.


5. I'm getting my hair done this evening by my amazing hairstylist Jo.


6. Going out to dinner tomorrow evening with a boy.


7. And speaking of boys... A very cute boy named Titus came to see me in the office today!

I'm sure I won't have a problem coming up with 8, 9, and 10 by the end of the week! I have a grateful heart.

Strawberry yogurt, gummy worms and so much more...

We are almost two weeks into April and I just realized my last post was last month! Where have the past couple of weeks gone? It has been non stop and there is no signs of slowing down either. In the middle of March, Monica and the girls came up for a quick visit. Abby was taking a test in the area and so they got to visit for a few days. Oh to be a kid again and enjoy gummy worms in your strawberry frozen yogurt! Margie is growing up fast. I can hardly believe this was taken seven years ago! Happy 7th Birthday Margie! Since the time change early last month I'm back to faithfully walking in the park after work everyday. Rain or shine! I've made some new friends who walk their dogs there every day which is something to look forward to at the end of a long work day. Wednesday it rained right in the middle of my walk but I didn't mind a bit since I was at the right place at the right time to enjoy a beautiful double rainbow!Last weekend I was at a baby shower for a friend from work. She is expecting twin girls! I went with my friend Megan who is also expecting a girl in August. Looks like I'll continue to be surrounded by lots of "auntie opportunities"! And speaking of "auntie opportunities", yesterday was moving day for my friends Abby & Michael. I was at their place bright and early to watch their two little girls during the move. These two cuties just melt your heart! Kate is almost two and a half and loves to help. She is a little ray of sunshine! Savannah is a very happy eight month old. She is full of smiles! I am so blessed to be able to spend some time with them.

An InspirationRecently family and friends came from near and far to celebrate a very special lady. My dear landlady Charlotte turned 90 years old this past March 15th! What a wonderful milestone to reach and what a wonderful inspiration she is as she does her daily walks, keeps the vegetable and flower gardens growing and stays very active. Happy Birthday Charlotte! You inspire me.

Short Trip To Seattle (or my unplanned version of Sleepless in Seattle)

A few weeks ago I flew to Seattle for a work conference. My coworker and I got there a day early hoping to get in a little bit of sightseeing before the conference began Sunday night.

Our hotel was close enough to walk to Pike Place and wander around all of the market area. It was very interesting to see all the different kinds of things for sale at these stalls. Cheesemakers, bakeries, flowers and lots of seafood. We even got to see them "throw the fish" at the market. One of my favorite things was the gelateria where I got a scoop of yogurt and salted caramel gelato... Yum! We even happened upon the Saint Patrick's Day parade quite by accident. The next day I had made arrangements to take a gourmet tour of Seattle. We met up with the "foodie" guide at a local hotel and began a delicious culinary journey. Cheers!It was all quite delicious! I think my favorite was the pizza place called Serious Pie. It really tasted like authentic Italian pizza. A wonderful crust! The tour wrapped up just in time for me to walk back (in the pouring rain) to the convention center for the opening session of the conference.

That night unfortunately, I began to fell very sick and I was up most of the night. Yes, I was "sleepless in Seattle" but for a very undesirable reason... food poisoning. So what began with much enjoyment ended up in three and a half days feeling very sick and unable to get out of bed. After a day and a half of not being able to keep any food or water down I finally began to feel a little bit better on Tuesday. This is what my diet look like for the next couple of days...Not very exciting or very gourmet is it?

Wednesday, my last day in Seattle, I was finally feeling well enough to attend the last two sessions of the conference. After checking out of the hotel we took the monorail to the "Needle"and then walked through a sculpture garden and back along the water front. And so I wrapped up my eventful trip to the Northwest. Glad to be back home!

March Showers Brought All the Flowers!

Spring has sprung in my backyard! Although you probably couldn't have guess that from the last couple of days which have been quite rainy and cold somewhere in there beautiful things began to appear all over. I took my camera and did a little walk all over the yard and caught some of it before the big storm on Sunday. Enjoy this colorful glimpse of God's beautiful creation!

GO Saturday

This morning I was a part of GO Saturday with my Grace Group from church. It was a day of service set aside to help and assist where needed in the community around us. Serving and being an active part of the body of Christ. We painted a room that is used for family therapy and counseling at the shelter and also did some yard work and tree trimming.

"Then a light will break
Coming with the dawn
God will answer when we pray
Glory will come down, healing will abound
Righteousness will have its day
As we cry for help God will intercede
Proving yet again his love
He will not forget every act of faith
Watching from his throne above."

Happy St. Patrick's Day "Christ with me, Christ before me,Christ behind me, Christ in me,Christ beneath me, Christ above me,Christ on my right, Christ on my left,Christ when I lie down,Christ when I sit down,Christ in the heart of every manwho thinks of me,Christ in the mouth of every manwho speaks of me,Christ in the eye that sees me,Christ in the ear that hears me."- Saint Patrick