Minnesota

Well, here I am in Eden Prairie with the Hansons.  Kenzie's surgery yesterday was successful and she is off this morning to her first physical therapy appointment!  She hasn't been in too much pain and seems to be handling all this with poise and grace!  She is quite the young lady.  She has had three nursesmaids in Jared, Leanna and me!  As difficult as it may be for her to ask for help, she is resigned to the fact that she does need it and is now accepting it willingly.  Polo has been at her side since she got back from the hospital yesterday and continues his watch over her constantly.

The other kiddos are doing great and yesterday they all got ready, ate breakfast and made it to school/bus stop on time - all on Nani's watch!  Thank God! They are concerned for their sister yet still find a way to get under her skin somehow.

Leanna's been cooking up a storm, as usual, and I am sure that when I leave here I will have gained all my weight back!  LOL (laughing out loud for Gpa Sam)

I'm hoping to see one of Will's training sessions and Gillie's horseback lessons and am looking forward to a little mom and daughter time later this week with Leanna.  Last night we all cuddled together in the living room to watch a movie, devouring m&m peanut butter eggs and leftover popcorn from my stop at Nuts on Clark in Chicago!

Tonight we are grilling lamb burgers and a think a Cribbage team tournament is brewing. 

That should catch y'all up to date.  I've got to get back to studying - oops, sounds like Kenz is back from PT, gotta run!

I Did It!

After a run on the beach in Cape San Blas, FL

Well, I finally did it!  I'm sure you may be asking yourself, what on earth did she do now?

I signed up to get my Certification in Personal Training ~  I have been wrestling with this idea for quite some time now and just couldn't decide whether it was something I really wanted to do or just a passing fancy.  I've prayed about it, researched several options, talked to some experts and finally I signed up.

So, today I embark on what the experts estimate as a 3-6 months journey to study, attend online classes and lectures and eventually take the test.  Most of you know that I have been interested in nutrition and exercise for a few years and have shared my knowledge with some about eating better and incorporating exercise for a more healthy lifestyle.  So it seems this is a logical path to follow since I am passionate about it and I hope that you will stand by me, pray for me and encourage me during this journey!

Simplify Your Life

My devotional reading this morning was from Isaiah 57:10 "You were wearied with the length of your way (in trying to find rest and satisfaction in alliances apart from the true God), yet you did not say, There is no result or profit"

What?  Sometimes the message isn't always clear and I have to do some searching to find out what it means.  The author of the devotional gave one translation of this verse "You are wearied out through the multiplicity of your ways" and she goes on to explain that if we have multiplicity in our lives, the answer is simplicity.  Oh, okay (open hand, knock to the head, like 'oh, I coulda had a V8') I get it!

If we are so busy with things, these things may take our focus away from God - the more we have, the more busy we are and pulled in many directions that cause us to lose focus.  There's that word again, FOCUS!  I admit that I get distracted easily and can sway from the course I've set.  But, when the Lord is calling you to stray from your norm, I think we need to listen.

I have this internal struggle going on as to what to do, look for a job, start a business, relax and explore.  The possibilities keep shooting through my brain  This move to PA and the search for a job has left me searching for direction and purpose in my life.  But, it seems the more I look the more confused I am.  One day I am set with the path I want to take, then something or someone will steer me away.  Or, is it me driving away from that direction?  Who knows.  So, I am trying to spend a lot of quiet time listening for God's direction.  I sometimes feel that it is taking too long, and when my hubby mentions the job thing I get all worked up because I just don't know what is right.

So as I ramble on, I need to get back to my original thought.  The reading today gave me an idea that maybe my life is too full of 'stuff' and 'things' that are stealing my focus away from God and what is important to Him. Multiplicity.  I need to release some things.  I pray that once I simplify, I may see a clearer path to where the Lord wants me to go.

Wondering

Ever get confused about life's decisions?  Dream up some crazy path to take, only to get discouraged by the world?  I am sure y'all feel this at times, we all do.  But, when you really care about something and can't seem to verbalize or convey your passion does this mean it is not the right thing to do?  Or you aren't really passionate about it?

Just wondering.

This Week in PA

Hi everyone, it's good to be back to blogging again.  Today I am fasting because I am having my tear duct surgery this morning, so I am catching up with my writing since I can't eat.  
Last week we spent time with Arizona friends, Kelseys, Gerhardts, Rasmussens and Hynes' sailing the Caribbean.  I'll share some pictures  here and even though they are beautiful they don't tell the story of how great it was to see our friends and enjoy time together.  We were so blessed with weather, safe travels and health and had an absolute blast during the trip.
Here are some pictures.  They don't do the island justice, but hope you enjoy!

On Cabbage Beach in Nassau Bahamas

Driving around St. Marteen

A Conch Shell on the beach in St. Martin

Sunset from our balcony - can you believe this?

At Orient Beach in St. Marteen (1/2 is nude the other half is clothed)
Can you believe the color of the water?

A plane landing over Mahoo Beach on St. Martin

Here's your sign.....

Our ship in St. Martin

Raggae artist, Dread I selling his CD's on Orient Beach in St. Martin

Linda and Bob, me and Otto, Phil and Jill, Lynda and Tom, Susanne and Dudley

A great time was had by all.  Of course it was a teary good-bye for us all at the airport, but we know that we will have these friends with us always, no matter where life takes us!

Please pray for a safe and successful surgery, and that my tear ducts remain open afterward!   Pray for my caregiver too (Otto)!

Celebrating a Life - Thomas L. Stuck

This past weekend, Otto traveled to L.A. to celebrate the life of his brother, Tom who succumbed to congestive heart failure this past weekend.  Tom didn't live his life silently, with ease or how others would suggest he live. He lived out loud and big and he sometime struggled.  He was Otto's older brother and sometimes bullied him and chased him all over, but when Otto relives the events and tells the stories about their childhood, I can see the love that they had for each other and the memories they shared shine.  I'm sure the family has great memories and enjoyed the time Sunday reliving them, celebrating his life and doing a few shots of Jack or Wild Turkey.  May God welcome you Tom into His Kingdom today!

At Jason's college graduation party, Chino - 2006
J, Tom, Justin, Shawn, Charlene and Buck

San Clemente - 2007
FR - Jamie, Nathan, Chris, Jess, Buck, Shawn
BR - Jennifer, Tom, Charlene, Tim, Chuck, Otto, CJ, Missy, Josh

Catching Up

Well, life goes on.... since I last blogged, I've starting donating a lot of time in the adoption department at Catholic Charities.  They have a project of getting all closed adoptions on an Excel spreadsheet.  They have so many different documents that are associated with an adoption that when they need to review a record, they have a wild goose chase on their hands.  So, I've been going in a few hours each day to try and search the current spreadsheet and document the missing information.  Once that is completed, then I'll review the microfilm or paper records to complete the information missing on the Excel spreadsheet, in hopes that all pertinent information will be located on one page.  Whew.  It is a daunting task since the office has been doing adoptions since the early 50's, there are a LOT of records.  Although the task is large, I feel so good to  be able to help out.  Their staff is small and there just isn't enough time for them to do the leg work whenever an adopted child is searching for their birth mother or visa verse.

I visited the Westmoreland County Food Bank a few weeks ago in hopes to start volunteering there as well, and the COO thought there might be a job.  After meeting with them I discovered that the board didn't approve for an additional person, no bueno on the job, but they do have some volunteer opportunities possibly in the office doing some data entry.  I'm going to focus on the project at CC for now, and hopefully will get my foot in the door at the food bank in hopes of a possible job in the future.

Otto and I are both helping out at one of the church's Food Pantry each month.  The Friday night before the disbursement of food, we pick up the leftover bread from the local Panera bakery and bring it with us the next morning.  We spend about 5 1/2 hours the first Saturday of each month helping to prepare for the 300+ folks in need to pick up a box of groceries, including eggs, fresh veggies and even diapers and toilet paper.

It sure feels good to be helping out others in need and it keeps me focused on what God truly intended for our lives, not making money and hoarding personal items, but to treat others less fortunate with dignity and respect!  I am humbled by the numbers of people in need that come through the line each month.  Some, so embarrassed to look you in the eye, but ever so thankful to those with disabilities needing help to pack their box to the family suffering severe economic turmoil.  I smile and greet each cheerfully although on the inside I am asking God, why?  I pray that I continue to serve with an open heart and mind.

Oh yeah, and our oldest grandkiddo turned 15 last week, is that unbelievable how fast time flies by?

We visited the Cooney's in OH a couple of weekends ago, here are some pictures from near the farm where Sheryl grew up in Somerset.  First, there is the covered bridge, an abandoned church building, an interesting door stop, an old barn and tractor and lastly, a picture of us in Columbus after eating at Katzinger's deli - a great find while we were downtown at the co-op market on Saturday!  Enjoy!

Rainy Days and Mondays

Remember that song by the Carpenters?  Well, if you don't here's a line from it....."rainy days and Mondays always get me down"!  But, really, they don't - Mondays should be embraced and faced head on ready to take on anything, especially after a weekend of rejuvenation!  Really though, we should face every day as though we could take on anything, because we can.

My day started off kinda slow, I had a list of errands and gym to get in before heading home to get dinner ready for the hubby.  But, I just couldn't get moving this morning, I fiddled on the computer, paid bills and before I knew it, it was noon.

Why are some days easier than others?  Well, for me I can say that when I start with God my day is definitely better, if I leave Him out of the equation, I usually have trouble -- this happens over and over for me so why am I surprised?  I'm not really I guess.  What I'm trying to say here is that when we remove God and His plans for us we sometimes wander aimlessly, complaining and well, slow-going.

Once I was out, the sun was shining and it was a beautiful day, almost one that I missed because I was caught up and not focused.

As the rain starts hitting the windows again this evening, a smile is on my face as I know that no matter what the weather, if I focus on My God who is right here with me leading me through whatever storm may be approaching, I will be just fine!

Here's a picture of Otto's license plate from the other day - we had freezing rain with 2" of snow, now that was an experience!  Our neighbor thinks we are crazy, we were out there for 30 minutes trying to get the ice off the truck so we could get to the gym.  She kindly asked us for our kids' phone numbers so she would have someone to contact when something happened to us.  She is a little on the cautious side and wouldn't dream of driving in inclement weather.  She advised us to at least wait until it warmed up - it was 6 degrees, warming up was 30!  LOL  Boy, it sure is different living out here.  We ended up taking a walk, she was right, there weren't ANY cars on the road.  Once we got home we did some P90X abs + core and just hung out.  (love those workouts!)  We did venture out to church at 4 and it had warmed up to 24 degrees!

This week, it's supposed to be in the high 40's-50's and today at one point, it was 61 - crazy weather for January here in PA is all I'm saying!

Here I am Lord!

"Here I am Lord, speak to your servant"  Samuel's response to His Father's calling.  It only took Samuel three times to get it right along with a little help from Eli!

Today I am thankful for my brothers and sisters in Christ who sometimes help me discern the calling I've failed to respond to.  Just like Samuel, I run to what is familiar because I fail to listen.  It is so easy to fall into worldly traps and snares that keep us from responding to God's calling.

Otto and I worked the food pantry at OLG last weekend and committed to return next month.  We've felt the call but neglected to answer.  I am glad we finally responded, it feels great to be back in service!  We need to open our hearts and ears to hear what else God is asking of us and respond.  We need to be His hands and feet!

As St. Francis would say, "Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words."

Family Christmas

We had a wonderful time in Minnesota, here's a few pics from Christmas Eve before going to church.  We feel so blessed to have had such a great visit with Leanna, Jared and the grandkiddos!  We sure missed the Olivito/Stuck clan, but enjoyed our time with the Hansons.  

Today, I am feeling reflective, yesterday I felt defeated.  It is somewhat boggling that I can change gears so quickly, but then again not so much.  When I spend time with the Lord, I feel that I can do anything, but when I leave it up to my own doing, I just can't do it.  So, why do I spin my wheels?  Human nature I guess. I think sometimes I just forget, so I've adopted this mantra, I can do all things, through Christ who gives me strength (Phill 4:13) I have to bring Christ back into the center of my thinking, make Him the reason I can do all things, not because of me, Cheryl, but because of Him.

This morning I feel renewed, let's see if I can keep my thoughts on Him today.