Thanksgiving flyer

https://www.flickr.com/photos/54620757@N06/45132297684/in/dateposted-ff/

Pinterest Rocks

I have to say, as a late convert, that I LOVE Pinterest!  I've tried, with some success, not to enthusiastically pin absolutely everything that catches my eye.  I follow the link if I can't figure out how to do something from the picture and do not pin it if it doesn't lead to any real instructions.  I am disappointed with the sites that are a blog and the pin doesn't actually lead to whatever I was interested in (and you can't find it with some light searching).  I don't have all the time in the world to read every blog that looks interesting, though that would be great.  I have other things to do besides follow my interests, which probably makes the time I do get to follow my interests more satisfying.  Another thing that bugs me is wanting to pin a project from the original site and have it take me to that person's Pinterest page.  I've tried pinning that and then can't find what I originally wanted off the page - I didn't want their 1500 pins, or even one of their boards (and you can't pin just THAT board, really),  So Pinterest needs some work still.
All of that said - the site has been great for a number of projects I've done in the last several months.  It has helped cut down on the costs for projects with the 3-and-4-year-olds at AWANA....there are lots of good ideas using stuff from around the house.  I got decorating ideas for a friend's wedding and my granddaughter's birthday and it's a good place to go for how-to instructions on various projects.  It's allowed me to tap back into that creative side that I have so missed with all the pathos and drama that has been part of our lives for the last several years.  I'd forgotten how satisfying I find creating something to be.
Of course, the other attributes of Pinterest are not to be disregarded.  I'm just now tapping into places I want to see and pictures that make me happy and sayings that I want to remind me of things.  I love the gardening tips and the ideas for refinishing furniture and using old things in a new way.  There is something there for almost everyone.  I'd like to post a few things that end up in Pinterest, shared by others....though I need to think about that Before I start a project, not After I've finished it (at the moment, I only have After pictures).  :-P
So, if you haven't tried Pinterest, and have a little too much free time on your hands, try it!  You'll probably like it.....too much!

Easy Eatin'

This is too good not to pass on.  It works wonderfully!

I'm Blessed!

Life gets away from me too easily.  I truly live Blowin' In The Wind!  Sometimes I need to stop and take a breath.  We had a Revival this last week at our church and it was fabulous!  Not that everything went perfectly or that we weren't tired.  But, if you ever have a chance to hear Pat Cammarata, don't let it pass you by.  He's a dynamic speaker and the Holy Spirit really works through him.  I'm really glad I went to every service!  

He made this point that reached me:  If God is not moving in your life, then YOU need to change.  You are not opening yourself up to experiencing God.  God hasn't gone anywhere....YOU have.  I had realized this in the last few years, but it takes time to change the pattern we have made for ourselves.  It's an ongoing process for me, as I suspect it is for everybody.  I truly am blessed and I need to remember that every day.

Happy Valentine's Day All Year Long

My husband and I have been married for 29 years.  We've never made a big deal out of Valentine's Day.  We both kinda think that you should show your spouse that you really love them more than once a year!  He did bring me a miniature rose plant a couple of days ago because he thought it was beautiful.  We try to tell each other every day that we love each other and we try to do things for each other that show the other we love them.  Don't get the impression that we are perfect because we're not.  The important thing is that we keep striving.  So, tomorrow, when Valentine's Day is past and the day after that and the day after that, tell your spouse how much you love them and why they are special to you and do a little something for them.  And, if for some reason a day escapes without these simple things, then do them the next day - keep striving!

Falling on my Face

Okay, I didn't do so well with my vacation post......or anything since.  I may fill it in so I will have a record of our travels and the interesting places, things and people that we saw.  We always enjoy traveling; the journey is as much fun as the destination.  Jerry and I love being together - if we could just figure out how to find an unending source of funds, we would retire right now and just enjoy life!
I am not going to beat myself up over not keeping up with the blog - I'm just going to pick it up again.  I think that's a key to happiness - don't spend time in regret, persist in what is important to you.  If you falter, pick yourself up and keep going!

Day !

We really wanted to go on a vacation this summer.  If we don't get off sooner rather than later, we usually don't get to go at all.  I was a little worried when we didn't leave as we originally planned, but it worked out okay.  My teacher husband got his contract signed for a school in the fall and that is just fine to delay for.  We got some of his pictures hung in his room and some of his school stuff out of the garage and up to the school!  He is looking forward to having just one subject to prepare for instead of five.  It may be a blessing in disguise that he was downsized out along with others due to funding issues at the private school he was at, though it made him sad.  But that's a ways off...for now we are on the road!
We are headed to New York to see one of our daughters.  It's been a year since we last set eyes on her and her family, way too long!  We have over 1700 miles to go before we get there, so there's time for some adventures along the way.

We paused at a rest stop in Oklahoma near Erick.  A man who worked there told us about a local photographer and showed us a book by him; we were admiring the pictures he'd taken that decorated that rest stop.  So I'm giving a shout-out to him: http://themasterslightajourney.com/ .  It's a website to buy his book that we looked at, but one of his photographs is featured on the cover.  He likes reflection photography and does some really good work.  Some of his photographs are also featured at http://www.classicoilfieldphotography.com/1/cb86#/gallery/western-photography/ : look for pictures by Sam Hagen.  I always enjoy finding others who see the world the way I do.