Changing Seasons

I must say that I don't remember ever experiencing such a beautiful fall. The leaves on the trees started changing colors in September!! Everywhere I look, there are bright, vivid reds, oranges and yellows....just like on a calendar! Of course, we've had a very dry summer, so the colors aren't even near what they would normally be. But they are spectacular compared to what I've been use to. It's like a wonderland every day. I drive Alysa to school and see the rolling pastures and fields, freshly cut or harvested, the old barns, the sun peeking over the hills and then the pops of color everywhere. Just like God painted a beautiful new picture to take my breath away.

House - Week #8

I can't believe another week has gone by already. It just seems impossible. Hmmmmm, this week I met with the guy who is laying the floors, made yet another run to pick out tile, they did some inside work this week due to a rainy day and then they started building the back deck and roofing over that and the roofers came to lay the tar paper down. Oh, yea, and the windows were installed. It's really starting to shape up!

It's Official......I'm Mui Loco!!

Can I just say......what the heck am I thinking?! I did an impromptu cycling class yesterday that my derrier is incredibly sore from, do Pilates on T and Th followed by a kick boxing class I just started that is kicking my tail (though I do have to brag that I actually ran - you read correctly - RAN for a good 5 minutes to warm up for this class - no small feat for someone who can't remember running that much since.....high school?) and I'm starting a combination group power/cycling class called Power Surge (I came up with the name - cool huh?) that will happen on M, W, and F!! I do believe I can officailly be called a gym rat!!

Something Different

I know it seems all I've been talking about lately, and showing pictures of, is our house going up. Although there are other things going on in our lives, it seems the house is the "hub" of all the interest. Just to let you know what some of the other things are, I thought I'd do an entry.

• I start my day by getting Alysa ready and off to school. Once I drop her off, I head to the gym where I spent the next hour to hour and a half doing everything from the eliptical to Pilates/Yoga to weight training to kickboxing or power cycling. Some days I come home completely wiped out. But rarely take a nap......no time.
• Coming home from the gym, I shower and either clean house (which I really haven't been motivated to do lately) or dash out of the house to do "errands". These can range anywhere from grocery shopping, visiting with friends or house-related things.
• I'm usually in line to pick Alysa up from school around 2:40 or so. Once she's in the car, we head to her guitar lesson on Mondays, and every other day it's home for homework. We sometimes stop for a snack at the Sonic. Hey, life should be enjoyed!
  
• Mark has been diligently working on a land sale for his job. This has resulted in much stress for him, as many people throughout his company are depending on him to "perform" to make budget for the year. But he is almost always able to maintain his sense of humor and keep Alysa and I laughing. Laughter is good. Laughter is definitely good.
  
• Wesley and Wendy are beginning the process to find a house, which they desperately need. They are busting out of their apartment all over the place and it would be SO NICE for the young 'uns to have room to grow and play. The babies (I say babies although Skylar is going on 4) have been sick off and on with one thing or another. But I think for now, they're all healthy. Skylar is showing a few signs of sibling rivalry, being that she is no longer the only attention-getter in the house. But Wes and Wendy are good parents and will work out the kinks as they go along, just like we all do.
  
• Perry is still due to come home from Iraq (Yippie!!!!!) later this month. I cannot tell you how excited I get just saying the words. We will be traveling to North Carolina to welcome him home. Oh, yea, I've got to get to work on my "Welcome Home Lance Corporal Perry Yazell" sign. Yes, he did get a promotion recently to Lance Corp. We were thinking we might be able to see this happen when he got home, but they went ahead and did it in Iraq. Of course, we're proud all the same.
  
• Alysa is doing great in her guitar lessons. Although, I just realized she hasn't practiced at all since her lesson on Monday. Hmmm....anyway, she's making new friends, which I am thrilled about. She'd met this one girl last year that she just latched on to and depended on to be her one true friend who was always available to do whatever whenever. However, that did not turn out to be the case and we've had to re-situate our eggs, so to speak. But I'm a firm believer that all things happen for a reason and I believe that to be so in this case. She's doing wonderful in school and growing like a weed....still petite, but taller.
  
• Oh! The weather! Can I just say that it has been fabulous?! A bit on the dry side, although we got a little bit of rain yesterday. The grass is dry and crunchy, but the temperatures have been wonderful and the nice breezes are fantastic! Lovin' IT!

I have witnessed many changes all around me. I know that changes takes place constantly. I guess I've just noticed them more of late. I am at a new place in my life, traveling a road I've never been down before. My concerns right now are if and how I can have my children around me at Christmas when we're scattered all over the eastern states and how to deal with it if we can't be together (the thought breaks my heart); not being able to be a more active part of my grandchildrens' lives - watching them grow up and change and really get to know them; when we'll get to move into our house and taking care of all the details involved with that; and trying to keep my life on an even keel...not teetering too much in any direction. All in all, life is wonderful right now. I am really enjoying this new place I'm in and I know I will grow, even if I'm disappointed at times that things aren't the way I might want them to be. I feel so very blessed.

House - Week #7

So here's week #7....our builder calls this time "dead time" because all that's happening is more framing. He's kind of upset because they're dragging this part out, while all the time we've thought they were kicking booty! Goes to show how much we know about building a new home. Still, he thinks by the end of the week they will put in the windows and doors and be bricking the following week. To me, that's exciting!! After this week, he says, things will really start crack-a-lackin'!! Woo-hoo!!!

House - Week #6

This week was very busy.......again. We (I) picked out floor tile and paint colors. I know that doesn't sound like it would take very long. But, believe me, you can't do it in just one trip to either store. But it was fun. Of course, there's still nothing set in "stone"....ha!....get it? Tile....stone.....ok, so maybe that wasn't all that funny. But it's more fun to laugh than roll your eyes. Here's what the house looks like after week 6.

Blessings

I simply must talk about some of the things I am greatful for. Let me start with my honey.....he truly does try in every way he possibly can to make me happy. He works so hard and asks for very little in return, just for me to be happy. He's more than wonderful. Of course, my children and grandchildren are next. They all complete my world. I couldn't imagine life without any one of them. A good day is when the weather is beautiful and I have my husband and Alysa by my side and my two boys call and tell me they love me. What more could I ask for, now really? I'm so thankful to live in this beautiful place. At one time I I was determined I would, at some time in my life, end up back in Texas. But I must honestly say now that I hope I don't. I love Kentucky that much. The weather has been fantastically beautiful. After coming from "hell's back door" - at least that's the way it felt because of the heat and humidity - I feel like I'm being "rewarded" for suffering through those 10 years. I also feel so blessed to be able to be a stay-at-home mom. I would like to have had this pleasure when my boys were growing up. But having it now means so much to me. To know the Lord knows me, all of us, so much better than we know ourselves and what's best for us, and blesses us accordingly, even to the exceeding of our own desires and expectations, means everything to me. I see evidences of this every single day. Of course, these are just a few of the many, many blessings in my life. But I would feel so ungreatful if I didn't share my gratitude.