Grandma???

1 month ago, I became a Grandma, Granny, Mimi or hmmmm........ I am not a woman of few words, so my emotion says: awesomeness, love, pride, curiosity, and wonder about the future. My dd and her dh are showing commitment to family future and love, to something bigger then themselves. It makes me feel so hopeful and so excited for the future. To see little Brody grow and to love his family and his God. Join me on this journey, all new to me. Trying to figure out my boundaries and my role. God is good!!

to be or not to be

In the new adventure in my life, I get very enthused to try things that I never thought I could do. So..... I thought, hey, if I can go back to school and be an esthetician why not continue and go into the Massage Therapy program? Well, I signed on the line and thought it would work out but it looks like the time is not right for me to go that direction. Financially, it would be best for me to develop my clientele as an esti and build that up. I could go far..... My confidence level is up there. It's now time to update my resume and put on the "best" face and visit the potential places to practice my "practice". Yippeeeeeeee..... I will let you know how it goes. Still have some schooling left and then State Boards but I have to plan ahead..

changes and dreams :)

It has been way too long since I last blogged. My life has taken a new turn and I am now "living my dream"!!!! I decided to go to school to be trained as an esthetician. It has truly been wonderful, fun and challenging. Old dogs CAN learn new tricks!!!

Each day I get to travel to Fargo (enjoyable) and do things to people that make them feel good and relaxed. Whoot!! Whoot!! I have made new friends, challenged myself to learn and take care of my skin like I never did before.

Maybe now I will have something to blog about :) I will try and update more often. Thanks for visiting.

Interview w/Cassie

Well, I took the challenge from my daughter, Cass, and I let her interview me. Here are the questions she came up with.

1. How did Dan & I meet and what's our engagement story.

Dan & I met at Oak Hills Bible Institute in Bemidji, MN. We were both seeing other people but those relationships didn't work out. I only went 1 year he was there for 2. We were "friends" and started writing each other to commiserate about lost love. I went to OHBI to visit him and other friends in Jan. 1978. Our first date was to church and then Perkins afterwards. He told me that he was ready for a serious relationship and wanted it to be with me. I said "OK". Then we went snowshoeing. We had 2 more "dates" and at the Ground Round in Brooklyn Center, MN he said "Heck, I love you and want to marry you!" I said "me too!". We were married on October 28, 1978. That's right, 3 whole dates before we were engaged :)

2. If you could plan your wedding again, what would you do differently?

We'd have a destination wedding to someplace warm, maybe a cruise in the Caribbean or the beaches of Mexico. Just close friends and immediate family.

3. What is your favorite quality in someone else? a couple of them: Loyalty and Sense of Humor

4. If you were to start your own business, what would it be and how would you do it?

I'd do 1 of 2 things: go into a home decorating business, consulting and actually designing and doing the hands on labor. ie. painting, sewing wall coverings etc. or open a small cafe/bistro. I'd serve coffees, breakfasts & lunches. Anything that Guy Friete would love. Who cares about the calories. Of course, I'd make lots of money and have no worries :)

5. My favorite book and why?

Golly, I've read so many books over the years but lately it's been anything by Roxanne Henke. She is a regional writer and writes about stuff I can identify with. I like her outlook on life and her realism. On another level I like suspense novels for a little spice.

Now, if this little interview was half ways interesting 1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me."2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. (I get to pick the questions).3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview others in the same post.5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

PURGING, THE GOOD KIND :)

I guess I'm not a "real" blogger like others who are consistent. For some reason I love to read other blogs but never seem to come up with something "important" to share with you all. Except now!!!

Today is going to be the day that I "purge" my master bedroom closet!!! I can't wait. I have a very large closet, maybe 8' x 12' and I have too much stuff in it, disorganized stuff. It also has not been painted since 2 paint colors ago. The vision of an organized, efficiently lit closet is so......exciting. There really should be before and after pics posted but.... I don't have a camera, only the one on my phone and it wouldn't do it justice. Dan says he will help me when he comes home. That would be fun to finally have another project to work on together. It helps us bond and not be couch potatoes.

What this all represents is probably getting some control in my life. Lately looking for a new full time job has been disappointing. I've not been unintentionally unemployed for this long before. Trying to be an eternal optimist in these times takes a bit of energy! Facing the realities of stuff isn't always fun but you know what??? God has been teaching me and assuring me that "this is HIS doing". He is in control!!!

Purging is good for the soul and for the household. I'll let you know how it goes. Looking forward to the endorphins to be released and put to good use.

Mavis's Famous Meatloaf

Tasty Tuesday came and went last week. oops! Check out Lindsay's other tasty tuesday recipes. This week i was thinking of comfort food and food for cold weather. burrrr...... It's coming for those of us up north :) This recipe is one that i learned in Jr. High when my mom went back to work and i had to make suppers. She, of course, doesn't seem to remember this the same way but .... i know it's a winner. I bake it for church dinners too. I do take liberties and add more or less of the amounts to specific tastes. Enjoy.

mavis's famous meatloaf

1 1/2 lbs. ground beef
1 egg
1 envelope lipton onion soup mix
3/4 c - 1 c oatmeal (quick or regular)
1/2 c - 3/4 c milk (don't make it soupy)
1/2 c ketchup

mix together with your hands (fun, fun). Put in loaf pan or double recipe and put in 9 x 13 pan. bake 350-375 for 1 hour or until no longer pink. Last 10 minutes top w/ favorite BBQ sauce or catsup. Serve w/mashed or baked potatoes and cheesy corn (corn w/velveeta melted in).

a little humor in our "dance" toward the presidency

This last week of campaigning & voting stuff gets pretty long and not all that fun. I thought i'd throw a couple of fun items your way, something to cheer us up before the BIG day. Hopefully no matter how you vote you'll find these to be a chuckle or two. ENJOY and Remember to Vote, Nov. 4 :) After you've checked out the picture go to http://www.palinaspresident.com/ and move the mouse over the picture and click. There are little surprises all over. This is courtesy of stephen's blog.