Currently

Looking out my window Cloudy, around 55 but high will be 71

I am thinking of what I am wearing today since I am meeting friends for lunch.

I am thankful a comfortable bed and a hot breakfast.

One of my favorite things is Bible journaling.

I am creating pages for my Lent study based on the names of Jesus.

I am wearing shorts/tank pajamas

I am reading Behold the Man by Bodie & Brock Thoene

watching the birds go to the birdbath

listening to the Bible Recap program

I am hoping to continue physical therapy for my back.

I am learning new things from my Bible reading. When David was on the run from Saul, he sent his parents to a safer place to live.

In my kitchen, gifts to pack on the table. Going to ask hubby what he is making. :)

In my garden: Drying out to plumeria cuttings and 12 succulent pots.

 A few plans for the rest of the week... lunch with friends today, Chosen movie part 3 on Wednesday during the day. Dinner later with family to celebrate our daughter's 36 birthday and grandson's 11th birthday. Marriage group, physical therapy on Thursday and shopping. Good Friday service on Friday. Make Easter baskets for grands on Saturday. Church on Sunday and Family gathering at my son's house.

 Here is a picture thought I am sharing... Grandson with his new car. He will be a senior next year!

Friday Faves 5 & Saturday 9

So thankful for another week of life! Thanks for Susanne and same for the memes, links on the left.

1. Thankful for a nice, weekend. I got to work on my Lent Bible study. I changed my sheets, was 3 loads of clothes and did some organizing. I am thankful because I can use my hand/thumb now. I was able to get a haircut too. I also got my Easter ornaments on my seasonal tree. 

2. Thankful to be able to attend our women's Bible study on Monday. I am glad I had time to catch up on my reading earlier in the day. I went outside and enjoyed the nice weather and the sounds of the chimes while I had lunch and read my study book. At the study, we had a speaker and she talked all about Hagar and she is gave the name El Roi to the God who sees me. After Paulette spoke, our small group went over the questions. My Bible journaling group went over names of God last year. This year we are going over the names of Jesus. The Lent study I have been working on has also been doing the names of Jesus.

3. Thankful to have a good nights sleep! It really helps me stay focused on the things that are important to me. That includes my Bible/faith journaling. Also my general crafting that allows me to be creative. It keeps me off the news and helps me to focus on God and not the world. I am enjoying my time listening to the Bible Recap girl and we are starting Samuel. My son and I went to Bible study back in 1994 and pastor covered Samuel. One of the things I remembered is that man looks at the outside but God looks at the heart. This study I am doing is chronological. I read the Bible this way a few years ago and it really shows how several books tell a more connected Biblical history of the Jewish people. 

4. Thankful to be able to see Chosen part 2 of season 5 with hubby. It is good to see the human side of Jesus as He lived in the world but was not a part of the world. The was a scene with Jesus and the woman that was very touching. I talked about some of the women at my last Bible journaling class. After the movies I went to Daiso and picked up a few things for crafting. Also got two bowls for me and my granddaughter for our soup. We already have some nice chopsticks that I got in Chinatown, San Francisco back in 2018. Then granddaughter and I went to the library, and I found a series of 6 books to read from the author I like.

5. Thankful for our marriage group. The host treated us to lunch as we celebrated a birthday of the host.

Also thankful for my physical therapy!

Saturday 9: Money (That's What I Want) 1959

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This lyrics mention "the birds and bees." Who told you about the facts of life? I saw two doxies mating when I was about 10 and then puppies were born a few months after. My Mom told me about periods about a year later and it all made sense. 

 

2) Barrett Strong sings that love won't pay the bills. How do you handle bill paying? Do you set aside one day a month to take care of all your bills, or do you pay each one as it comes in? What's your system? Most bills are on automatic payment. I pay a couple online at the beginning of the month.

 

3) He refers to dollar bills as "lean greens." Can you think of any other euphemisms for money? 

Moolah

4) April is tax time, so money is top-of-mind for us all. Do you do your own taxes or do you seek the help of a professional? My husband meets with our tax person every March. We got our money back already and it is spent.

5) On this week's song, Barrett does a solid job on the vocals and he handles the keyboards well. In addition to performing, he was a talented songwriter. One of his most popular compositions was "I Heard It Through the Grapevine," a song about a lover who listened to gossip and got some useful information. Have you ever been the subject of gossip? If yes, was there any truth to the rumor?

Yes and no.

 

6) He worked with Motown and its sister label, Tamla, for years, but when they moved their offices from Detroit to LA, he quit. Have you ever relocated for your career? No.

7) In 1959, when "Money" was popular, Huckleberry Hound was a hit with young TV viewers in 1959. What was your favorite cartoon when you were a kid? Bugs Bunny.

8) While children were enjoying daytime cartoons, their parents were discovering The Twilight Zone, which also premiered in 1959. Decades later, it's still being rerun on cable and streaming services. Are you a fan? I watched it for years.

 

9) Random question: Right now, would you prefer to grab a snack or take a nap? 

Snack. 

Sunday Stealing & Tuesday 4

1) What's the longest you've gone without sleep? About 32 hours.

2) What was the highlight of your last week? Meeting our new grand puppy!

3) You have to give a 10-minute speech to a group of high school students. What's your topic? 

Be true to yourself. 

4) What is the single best decision you've ever made in your life? Recommit my life back to the Lord.

5) If you could ask a coworker, friend or family member a question and be guaranteed an honest answer, who would you choose and what would you ask? My sister Terry. She is my best friend and she is also a marriage and family counselor. I talked to her about my ADD and she told me I was ADHD.

I might not be as physically all over like I once was, but she says I have many markers that show I am still ADHD. Once she explained it, I realized that I was and subconsciously knew it.

6) Do you cook for yourself when you're home alone? I do find myself something to eat. If there are no left overs, I can make a sandwich or find something. I can also make a quick stir fry with chicken and veggies.

7) Do you most often access the internet from your computer, your phone, or your smart watch? My laptop.

8) Do you have more email addresses or phone numbers? Phone numbers.

9) What's the biggest source of anger in your life right now? 

I would not say anger, but I would say frustration and sadness to see what is happening to our declining democratic nation. But then I look at the big picture and what the Bible says as we near end times. I remember what I  have learned and know God is in control. The Bible says you can't serve God and money. Satan is having a field day dividing people and our nation. It is a huge spiritual battle more than anything. So, I guess I am angry at Satan!

10) Mondays make me feel thankful that I am retired!

Teen-Age Romances was a comic that ran from 1949 to 1955. It cost 10¢ a copy.

Used magazines now can be bought by collectors from hundreds of dollars to almost $2000. for a copy.

1. Did you have a teen-age romance?  If not, did you dream of one? Yes I did. My first real boyfriend was Oscar and met at church youth group. We were together for a year. He had the straightest while teeth. I saw him a few times while in high school and he said I was really cute. I had changed from when we were together before. I had lost weight, had long hair and wore a little makeup. I saw him a few years later at a gas station. He asked how I was doing, and I said I had just had a baby, and he said, "no way, you look great!" I showed him my son and he said he was happy for me. Then I left. When I was married about 10 years, my parents had a party and he was the DJ. He had already met my husband. He asked me if I had ever thought it would have been like if we had stayed together. I had just had my second son, and I told him no. I had thought about it until I got married. I haven't seen him since though I have run into his sister. The last time I saw her, she said I looked great, and she took a picture of me. The last I heard, he was a retired fire captain.

2. What made it romantic? Or if it wasn't why not? First love? I would say hormones! 

3.  What were dates like when you were younger? What did people do.. where did they go? 

I didn't officially start dating until I was 16 and I dated Kevin Dodd. I really liked him and I have written about him before. We dated for several months in my junior year of high school. We were friends first and he would come over to help me with my chemistry.  Then we started going out, to high school games, out to eat and the movies. But after the spring formal, we drifted apart.

A year later I met my husband when I was 17 and a senior. We had so many fun dates along and with my sister and her boyfriend. We met the boys at church youth group, and we did fun things in our group too. On one date we went to Japanese Deer Park. It was so pretty. We to Disneyland and Knotts Berry Farm. We went to the Strawberry Festival and the beach. this was in 1973, and we married in 1974!

A couple of years later. my husband met Kevin and his girlfriend when my cousin got married and he played guitar and sang at her wedding. Years later my cousin and I met up with him and his wife while he was in town to pack away his belonging from his mother's home after she passed. A couple of weeks later I received a package of all the notes I left in his locker when we dated. His wife suggested he send them back to me for sweet memories. I told my husband, and he said that was nice of them. He didn't ask to see them, and I am not sure what I did with them. That was back in the 90's. I did write back to thank Kevin and asked why we broke up. He said he was a new Christian, and I was a temptation to him. I was so happy to hear that he left me for Jesus!

I have these little date books that I kept from 1971-1989. I wish I would have kept up with them because. But I do have my blog from 2002 until now that has memories. I have lots of pictures from the 80's and 90's that I can look at to remember. Now my grandson has a girlfriend!

4, What kind of things, places etc. do you find romantic? I still love going to the beach. We just went on a cruise in January for our 50th and it was so much fun! There are pictures on the links above.

Links to memes are on the left. Thanks to Sam and Annie for this week's questions.

My Website is at Susan's Garden of Friendship and the link is to the right. Lots of inspirational pages too. I hope to see you there!

Friday Faves 5 & Saturday 9

Thanking God for another week of life! Thanks to Susanne and Sam for the memes. 

Links are on the left.

1.Church was good, and we went out to eat at Chilis with my son and his family. 

2. Thankful for a day to rest and catch up with my Bible study on Monday.

3. Thankful for another good day at Physical therapy and that I have good insurance.

Now I need to make dental and eye appointments.

4. Thankful that in spite of a sore back, hubby and I were still able to go to the movies to see Chosen, season 5, part 1. We went on senior day, so the theater was not very busy and the price was only $7.00. Also, that the theater has the reclining seats with a table. I took in my seat cushion and a blanket because the theater is always cold. We go back next Wednesday for part 2.

5.Thankful to see how happy my grands were to get a new puppy on Wednesday. We got to meet her on Thursday and have dinner with my son and his family. They lost their sweet Rey last September. Rey was our Minnies mom. Minnie will meet Daisy once she is settled in. Coco was happy to see us too!

 

 Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

 

1) In this week's song, Lainey Wilson longs to hit the open road. What do you yearn for this morning?  

2) She says her heart runs on dreams and gasoline. What fuels you? My hope is in the Lord, I am just passing through and I want to make the most of my time with my family and friends. Physically, I need rest. Spiritually, the Word of God is my fuel.

3) Lainey sings that her heart has been "drug through the mud." The correct past tense of "drag" is "dragged," but in parts of our country, "drug" is sometimes used. Can you think of any other grammatically incorrect song lyrics? This question made me think of my daughter when was young. There was a song that had the words glory, glory, glory to the King of kings. My daughter was saying boring instead of glory. She was young and that is what she heard. We still laugh at that.

4) She tells us her truck could benefit from being dusted off and shined up. Could your vehicle use a little TLC? The outside is not too bad, but the inside needs some care.

5) Before making it big in country music, Lainey supported herself by doing odd jobs, including appearing as a Hannah Montana impersonator for kids' parties. What's the most unusual job you've held? This question brought up a lot of memories. Sorry it is so long.

Each job I had bring back a memory. One summer I worked at a toy store when I was 14. My mom was the head manager of that store and 8 others. I learned so much that summer. I bought a bike at the end of the summer with a banana seat. I was a kid at heart, and it was a dream job. 

When I was 15, I was a candy striper. Another learning experience and thought it to be so interesting until a man decided to show me his scar from his groin to his upper chest. I didn't see any private parts, but that scar is still etched in my mind.

In my senior year of college, I worked under a social worker, and she gave me 4 cases to manage. My eyes were opened to the reality of sad life experiences. It touched a part of me that I kept pushed down-feelings. 

When I was in my early 20's I was a day camp counselor for the summer. It was a federally funded program for underprivileged kids. My sister got hired too for a long 6 weeks. We learned a lot about life that we did not know from these kids. I failed at double Dutch jump rope, but I could skate like a pro and the kids wanted to skate with me. 

I have shared a few things about my job at the post office. I threw mail into cases and got moved to a sit-down job after I got hurt. I was now working in the Nixie section. This is where the troubled mail ended up for many reasons, undeliverable mail, insufficient postage, damaged mail and so on. There were no computers back then, so we had to go to these giant "yellow pages" to look up addresses. For instance, a letter had a name and address and city, but no states. I had to go through lots of books to check for Louisville. There were 13 and I just looked an now there are 14. I had to check the street for every city to determine the state.  Another time we got a lot of wet and fire damaged mail from a plane that had crashed at an airport in a nearby city in 1986. The damaged mail went to several main facilities to be processed because there was a lot of mail. It was a lot of work. We had mail everywhere drying out. We had to separate the readable mail from the mail we could work with. We were not allowed to open any mail. That had to be sent to the dead letter office in San Franciso where they were the only place in California to do that. A lot of mail got sent there. There were other interesting things I saw. People sending nude pictures that ended up torn or the mail did not stay closed because it was not properly sealed or should have been sent in a package and not a thin envelope. Many people tried to send sand from the beach to addresses in the Midwest. Those got messes up in the conveyers belts and made a big mess that showed up processing big time. Same thing with people trying to send coins in letters. There were other things like people sending ashes came through the mail. Where they cremated remains! I could tell you many stories like that, but this is already too long. In 1989 I got moved to the marketing department to work on computers and learned so much more! I retired in 2011.

 

6) In addition to singing, Lainey has acted, appearing in 5 episodes of the series Yellowstone. Are you a fan of the show? I have not seen it. 

 

7) She loves Southern comfort food like mac and cheese and biscuits and gravy. What's on the menu at your place this weekend? I do not know yet. We usually go out to lunch after church on Sundays.

 

8) In 2022, when this song was on the charts, Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. Have you ever been to Scotland? No

 

9) Random question – Let's pretend you're back in Kindergarten. Which of these would young you prefer: a toy kitchen set, kid-sized gardening tools, or a mini trampoline? Mini trampoline! in 1960 we had to wear dresses but that did not stop me from being competitive with the boys! At least I had a parachute when I jumped out of the swing!