Save some time to Dream

I stayed up and watched Letterman tonight. I wanted to see and hear the latest from John Mellencamp.
Sonny might make fun of me for admitting this, but I have been a fan of him since I was in high school & he was known as Johnny Cougar.
Admittedly, I haven't listened to John in years, not since I became acquainted with Pandora.
But none the less I wanted to stay up late.
I was not disappointed!
Mellencamp's new song, Save some time to dream had incredibly touching lyrics and in many ways spoke to me and my experiences this past year.
Perhaps they will speak to you too.





Save some time to dream
Save some time for yourself
Don’t let your time slip away
Or be stolen by somebody else

Save some time for those you love
For they’ll remember what you gave
Save some time for the songs you sing
And the music that you’ve made

Could it be that this is all there is?
Could it be there’s nothing more at all?
Save some time to dream
‘Cause your dream could save us all

Save some time for sorrow
Cause it will surely come your way
Prepare yourself for failure
It will give you strength some day

Try to keep your mind open
And accept your mistakes
Save some time for living
And always question your faith

Could it be that this is all there is?
Could it be there’s nothing more at all?
Save some time to dream
‘Cause your dream might save us all

Cast your eyes up to heaven
Oh what does that mean to you
Try not to be too judgmental
So others will not judge you

Save some time to think
Oh before you speak your mind
Many will not understand
And to them you must to be kind

Could it be that this is all there is?
Could it be there’s nothing more at all?
Save some time to dream
‘Cause your dream might save us all

Oh yeah

Your dream might save us all




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Coho Ave NW,Salem,United States

27 years ago...

Today is my son's birthday.
He is 27!
last year at this time I would not have guessed that he would be living on the west coast and within a few hours drive of us, but he does.
I don't have many pictures of him.
He is like me in that regard and prefers to remain behind the camera and not in front of it.

But a little over 6 months ago I was able to capture a picture of us together.

So this one is just for me.

Happy 27th son!

Merry Christmas

Christmas in our house traditionally begins with a big breakfast.
We do this 'big breakfast' only a couple times a year, generally Christmas & Easter.

This year consisted of:
3 lbs Bacon
3 lbs Link Sausage
1*1/2 bags of Ore Ida Hash Browns
18 Eggs / scrambled
16 large extra fluffy Bisquits
2 cups Gravy
And this year I added Mimosas.

Ok, just I had mimosas!

We've finished breakfast, cleaned up, and opened gifts.

The new Apple Airport (wireless Internet) has been installed and everyone in the house is either on their iphones, laptops, or iPads.
Including me!
But we are staying connected to loved ones both near and far!

Peace, Love &
Merry Christmas to all.





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Ladies Day

Today is Ladies Day at the Blue Elephant Car wash.

It didn't exactly feel like Ladies Day other than the $2 discount and the piece of chocolate I received at the carwash today.
I left the house early this morning in an attempt to do a little Christmas shopping.
When I say a little, I mean a little.
I set aside about $250 for gifts.
I imagine for some people $250.00 would be a considerable amount of money.
But with that $250 I am trying to buy gifts for 34 people.
That works out to be about $7.35 per person.

But in spite of the lack of money,
my tardiness in beginning this process,
the fact that I don't like shopping much at all,
I had a decent day!

I went home mid afternoon to find my lazy ass teenagers had done NOTHING!
I had asked them to clean the dirty dishes and pick up the house.
(After all I had it cleaned top to bottom only 4 short days ago.)

I then promptly left.
I have enjoyed my late afternoon at Boons, my half a tuna salad sandwich, my beer,
and am listening to the Rolling Stones overhead sing,
"I'm just waiting on a friend.
I just need someone I can cry to,
I need someone to protect,
Oooh Makin' love and breakin' hearts..."

You get the idea.

I have paid my bill and need to finish up the errands so I can get back home to the mess of whatever isn't yet done like; making dinner, laundry, wrapping gifts, and pouring a couple more batches of hard candy suckers into the molds.

Tomorrow,
I am happy to say I am heading to the coast, Pelican Pub & Brewery and an evening of tasting wonderful Winter Ales where I won't care what is done or left undone at home.

I can care about home on Thursday.

Getting in the Christmas Spirit

In my effort to get in the Christmas spirit I continued work on decorating the house and this evening finished up the "plush superheroes" for my grandsons.

This past Halloween Cale & Zack dressed as Batman & Spiderman.
Naturally I wanted to make them their own cuddly superheroes.

I'd searched all over for a pattern to use, but found nothing even close to what I had in mind.
I eventually settled on an old fashioned Raggedy Ann pattern that required a LOT of alterations.

The Superheroes took on a life of their own and ended up NOT looking anything like I set out to create.
But that's okay.
Sometimes life takes me places I don't expect to go.

My grandsons are
ornery and energetic.
They are constantly running
jumping, climbing, screaming,
wrestling, & tackling their way through the day.

But when things settle down (and on rare occasions of quiet) they are peaceful, loving, cuddly, and will snuggle up on my lap.

I wanted them to have superhero dolls that represent them.

I think I have achieved that.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Coho Ave NW,Salem,United States

I need more olives!

A jumbled mess of my thoughts this morning...

I have been neglecting my blog the past 2 weeks.
That usually means I have been neglecting me.
Writing or blogging are usually signs that I am making time to pause, reflect, process, and share.
I haven't posted a blog and my journal remains untouched since my dad passed away.


Part of my absence is also due to my inability to pause or process right now.
Part of my absence is also due to not knowing where to begin.
So much has happened since dad's death.

We got home from KS a week ago.
Since then, I have simply been going thru the motions and trying to get things done.
I've managed to stay on top of the cleaning & laundry, menu making, grocery buying and cooking.

I have attended the girls concerts, mock trial, a Habitat for Humanity home dedication, a Blazer game, and I hung Christmas lights on the house.


With the Holidays close at hand there is still much preparing left to do in my Advent.

* I need to be starting my day, getting ready for Mass, and tackling my list of 'to-do's but I'm not even out of bed yet.

* It's been a crazy, busy, traveling, family/friend filled past 12 months.

* I have been blessed in so many ways.

* I am reminded of a prayer I was introduced to almost a decade ago...





* I need more olives!



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Westfarthing Way NW,Salem,United States

God Speed dad!

Scarcely more than 24 hours ago I finished a blog while settling down for a night in the hospital with my dad.
It wasn't more than 10 minutes after finishing the blog that dad passed away.
Now,
tonight,
after only a 90 minute nap early this morning,
I have laid my head down.
Today was filled with so much blessing!
I can't begin the describe it all right now.
It was a very full day and tomorrow will be even more so.
For now, I need to rest.

Love to all of you!


Dad, I miss you already!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Briggs St,Wichita,United States

Where do I begin?

I don't know where to begin.
This morning began with a great sunrise in Oregon.



I got my 1st ever picture with Santa at PDX.



I saw some of the best "Kick my own ass pants" waiting to board the plane



An equally odd shuttle van at MCI.



And a sunset equally as gorgeous as today's sunrise.




And now I am back in Wichita.
I am right back at Via Christi regional Medical Center.
I am once again spending the night in the hospital with my dad.
Last time I was here they were searching for answers.
This time we have answers and dad's prognosis is bad.
The doctors say he may only have a day or so.
His body is giving out.
How can this be?
He only came here a few short months ago for a knee replacement.
He wanted to be in good shape to take mom to the Holy Land next year.
And now he is dying?
How does this happen?
This wasn't part of the plan!
But I suppose deep down I have always known that it isn't MY plan...ever!
I go from, disbelief, to grief, to determination, to acceptance, to blessing, to resignation, to confusion, to laughter...
bouncing around the emotional room like a high powered superball.
My dad isn't supposed to be dying!
But he is.
We are all gathering.
One more sibling is yet to arrive.
We hope to find the best way to Celebrate dad & his life.
And then we will have to learn how to continue to be family without his amazing presence!
It will not be an easy task!

Location:St Francis N,Wichita,United States