Just checking in…

I have been enjoying time with my family and getting lots of projects done before school starts (for me) again. That has not allowed much computer time, but the productivity has been wonderful! I just have a little mending/sewing projects and painting to do. Most of the organizing and purging has been accomplished, so I feel so much freer! One of the biggest projects was the kitchen organization and cleaning. What a chore!

I had pneumonia for a couple of weeks around New Year’s, and still have a cough. It was NO FUN! No one else got it, so I guess the virus that started it off was just meant for me. So thankful the baby and other family members did not get it.

A Biggest Loser contest started at work, and my partner and I are off to a good start. It ends on March 12, so we are being diligent in eating right and cutting down on portion sizes. So far so good! Bill and I have begun to have a regular time at the gym, and I actually jog/walked for 3 miles the other day. I am not a runner, so it was a stretch, but it felt good. I am trying to increase the distance slowly.

Any words of encouragement are definitely appreciated…it’s a long way to lose 40-50 lbs. Ugh!!!

Here is a recent picture of Aiden to make you smile.

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Have a great day!

Kathy

Thankful Thursday

After a much needed break, I am back to blogging! Thank you for coming to visit. Please leave a comment now and then so I know you are out there. It gets lonely sometimes!

Today I am thankful for…

Finishing and passing my professional project/thesis with flying colors!

Making an A in Women’s Health III.

The opportunity to precept at clinics closer to home next semester (the LAST SEMESTER!!!). Hopefully I will find a job close to home too.

Having time to decorate the house (finally).

Finishing almost all of my Christmas shopping before Christmas week!

Aiden getting better – we have a nebulizer now and he is on multiple treatments each day, but already improved after one day! He has been coughing for 2 months, poor baby.

My family being home and all together soon. The boys are together in Fayetteville, AR until December 24, and I’m glad they can make some memories together.

The downstairs heat pump will work if we put it on auxiliary heat, which is buying us time to make some money to replace it, although the electric bill will be higher (we try to always do cash if at all possible).

My Savior, Jesus Christ, without whom I would be desperately lost. And without whom there would be no Christmas to celebrate!!!

Have a Joyful Day!

Kathy

To read more thankful thoughts, click the button below to find the list of Thankful Thursday participants this week.

I’ll be back soon…

You may be stopping by and keep seeing my 2 week old post, well…I have finished my professional project/thesis and one of two clinicals. I have a final exam on Dec. 1, one more clinical day at Parkland on Dec. 2, and one more class on Dec. 3. After that day I will post a REALLY THANKFUL THURSDAY!!!!!!! Only one more semester to go!

If you wish, pray for my finals to go well and for Aiden and Bill to get over their upper respiratory crud. There is nothing to give the baby because it’s viral, so we have been dealing with a cough and stuffy/runny nose for almost 2 weeks now. Bill had bronchitis and is healing, but still coughing some. Emma had it and is over it. I have remained healthy so far.

Thanks for coming by, and for the prayers.

Here’s to holidays, family and friends!

Kathy

The Simple Woman’s Daybook

Outside my Window…a chilly, overcast morning, falling leaves, squirrels preparing for colder weather.

I am thinking…about finishing my PAPER completely by Thursday, and working on it with my advisor today.

I am thankful for…My dad who turns 74 on Tuesday, and my son, Brandon, who turns 20 on Wednesday!

From the kitchen…Taco Soup tonight.

I am wearing…Shorty PJ set (which I need to store away because it is not warm!)

I am reading…The story of Esther and my study guide from church (about ways that we reflect God’s image ~ and ways to better reflect Him). What a patient, strong, heroic woman she was!

I am hoping…To turn in the PAPER (aka THESIS) on Thursday. There will be much rejoicing and exceeding gladness!

I am hearing…The computer fan, the dog and cat playing, and construction equipment at the church behind our house.

I am creating…New foods from new recipes this past week! I love the menu blog that The Organizing Junkie posts every Monday.

Around the house…A few dirty dishes from last night’s party for Brandon, lots of baby laundry that I will help with because Aiden has had a cold and is not sleeping well.

One of my favorite things…memories of my kids playing when they were little. Before you know it they are in their 20’s!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week…PAPER, work, then a weekend trip to Austin with a friend!!!

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you…

Remember to get your exercise today!!! This just cracked me up.

Love,

Kathy

To read more Daybook entries, please visit Peggy at The Simple Woman to find the list of this week’s participants in The Simple Woman’s Daybook.

Check out my Guestbook!

An Award! How exciting!!!

My dear friend of 30+ years, Nancy from Homemade Blessings, honored me with a blog award this week. We found each other again through blogging after being busy raising our families for several years! I am so blessed to know her and have her for a friend, and I would like to share my award with my readers.

This award comes with the following explanation (from the original Portuguese) -

“This blog invests and believes in ‘proximity’ [meaning, that blogging makes us 'close' - being close through proxy]. They are all charming blogs, and the majority of them aim to show the marvels of friendship; these are persons who are not interested when we give them a prize, and then they help to cut these bows; do we want that they are cut, or that they propagate? Then let’s try to give more attention to them! So with this prize we must deliver it to eight bloggers that in turn must make the same thing and put this text.”

I would like to share this award with several readers whom I have corresponded with the most…but I am fairly new to blogging, and could only choose 5 this time.

Nancie from More Than Conquerors, who has shown me that dealing with depression is not the end of the world. She lives in Singapore, has bipolar disorder and is a very talented photographer. Her blog is so encouraging to many people, and her use of scripture to minister to others is so healing.

Kaber at All About (my) Boys, who lives in California and is raising 3 boys. We seem to have similar personalities and interests and she has been fun to visit with. She is homeschooling and lists their daily adventures on her blog.

Lea at Farmhouse Blessings, who is in Tennessee and lives the rural life that I think I was supposed to live! I love looking at her pictures of the beautiful countryside, her chickens, her primitives and her sweet family. Plus she has a kind heart!

Peggy at The Simple Woman. She has a wonderful meme that we participate in every Monday to remind us to enjoy the simple things, focus on the basics and try to enjoy an uncomplicated existence in our homes and with our families. I love that she brings so many women together each week, and her site is beautiful.

Iris from Grace Alone. She brings many bloggers together every Thursday and calls us to give thanks for everything! I have met most of my new blog friends through her post, and believe she is doing a wonderful work for the Lord.

 Thank you, Nancy, for honoring me with this award. It was so sweet of you.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Kathy

 

Thankful Thursday

Today, October 30, 2008

I am thankful for…

…our kitty, Smudge,  who is rubbing at my feet right now. She is such a sweet addition to our family.

…warm, homemade oatmeal with raisins on this cool morning!

…a comfortable home and bed to sleep in…it calls me, but I must resist!

…warm fuzzy socks

…fresh coffee or hot tea (even better sipped with a friend)

…the cool snap we had (are having)

…a husband who still finds me attractive and loves me after 25 years of marriage

…watching my children mature and grow, even struggle. It means they’re healthy and are experiencing life!

…time to work at home today, even if it includes working on my professional paper!

…finding some new bloggers via the Giveaway Carnival

To read more thankful thoughts, click the button below to find the list of Thankful Thursday participants this week.

Simple Woman’s Daybook

Here is my Daybook entry for today, October 27, 2008

While I don’t really fit the description or think of myself as a Simple Woman, (and I doubt any of us really is that “simple”), I like this meme, and will participate when I can.

Word of the day: Ubiquitous!

Outside my Window…a cool, breezy bright morning that is refreshing my spirit.

I am thinking…about working some more on THE PAPER today and getting a lot accomplished.

I am thankful for…time spent with old, dear friends yesterday (Cheryl and Kevin, and Kevin’s dad). They were able to come to church with us and spend the day.

From the kitchen…Tortellini Soup and Pumpkin Cobbler (my old friend, Nancy’s recipes) We already had the Pumpkin Cobbler once and it is YUM YUM!!!

I am wearing…Tweety bird gown (again!)

I am reading…Ubiquitous research and references for my professional project.

I am hoping…To finish a big section of my paper in the next few days.

I am hearing…My Roomba vacuum running…oops, it just beeped telling me to clean the brushes (ubiquitous dog and cat hair!)

I am creating…still my professional paper/project for school. Also have been trying a lot of new recipes this past week!

Around the house…The ubiquitous laundry and ironing, the dog and cat chasing each other around the house, generating more flying hair.

One of my favorite things…the cooler weather to enjoy on a day “off”!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week…paper, ubiquitous clinical time, work, shopping with Emma for her and Aiden, Emma getting ready for a formal dance on Saturday.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you…

James and Brandon….then (Christmas 1990) and now (Christmas 2007 – before they played together in an orchestra concert). My, how they grow!!!

To read more Daybook entries, please visit Peggy at The Simple Woman to find the list of this week’s participants in The Simple Woman’s Daybook.

Thankful Thursday

This is a different kind of TT than I have posted before. It’s what I needed to write at this time though.

Today I am just thankful to BE and am resting in the arms of my Savior. Discouragements abound, especially in the political and economic climate we are in right now, but our God is faithful, just, loving and everlasting. I pray for our country and for our leadership. Remember that there is no authority in heaven or earth other than what comes from the Father. Whoever is placed in the highest office in the world needs our prayers.

Being in graduate school is hard. Raising a rebellious child is hard. Living with an opposite personality husband is hard (at times). Dealing with disappointments and discouragement is hard. I feel like giving up, but He never will.

I experience such deep grief and anxiety at times, but He lifts my head.

Sometimes I don’t believe there is another soul on earth who cares to try to really know me and understand my deepest thoughts and longings, but He does.

I feel so alone…yet I know that really I am never alone.

I know I’m unworthy of His love, but He freely gives it.

I know these things are true, even when I don’t feel they are…He is trustworthy.

Today I ask Him to send encouragement and light into my broken heart. Lord, heal my spirit today. You have made me with a soft heart that breaks easily, but also can care deeply. Help me to continue to show your love in spite of my brokenness. You know the desires of my heart.

Thank you, Jesus.

To read more thankful thoughts, click the button below to find the list of Thankful Thursday participants this week.

Thankful Thursday

Here is my Thankful list for today…October 16, 2008

I am thankful for my daughter, Emma, who is 16 years old today. Pray for her safety as she prepared to get her driver’s license. Happy birthday!

I am thankful for my husband who loves me and gives his heart to me daily.

I am thankful for what God is doing in my family.

I am thankful for my children who are growing into godly men and woman.

I am thankful for my grandson, Aiden, who brings joy to my life every day!

I am thankful for the refreshing, cooler weather and the feeling of fall!

I am thankful for my bed that is waiting for me…I have been very tired this week – more than usual.

I am thankful for opportunities to minister to women through nursing, and for the music ministries God has placed me in.

I am thankful that the Lord has blessed my sister, Rosemary, and her husband, Adam, this week with the news that she is pregnant! They have been trying for several years, and she is 6 1/2 weeks now. Please pray for health for her and the baby, as Rosemary has a seizure disorder and must stay on her medication. She is seeing a perinatologist, and so far all is well.

Here is a picture for this week:

Aiden Joseph Walker, Age 10 weeks

To read more thankful thoughts, click the button below to find the list of Thankful Thursday participants this week.