Hello Monday!

It is Monday, November 12th, and here in the US, yesterday was officially Veteran's Day, though we're "observing" it today. So, I'd like to start off with saying . . . 

Hello ... to all the brave men and women, past, present and future, who so selflessly put themselves in harm's way to defend our way of life. Your service to your country and your fellow countrymen is so greatly appreciated. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. 

Hello . . . to another week of Bible study with my family! We are spread over two countries right now, and several states -- we meet each Monday on a conference call for prayer and study. Currently, we're studying "Lazarus Awakening" by Joanna Weaver. 

Hello . . . to Operation Christmas Child! Our boxes are packed, and good thing! It's National Collection Week! Haven't heard of Operation Christmas Child? Visit the link, and check out this fantastic program for yourself!! 

Hello . . . to the amazing {mo}tography course taught by Jessica Sprague and Heidi Swapp! I'm joining hundreds of other women in learning to make to most of "mobile photography" -- i.e., my camera phone! It's always handy, and with technology today, it's a no-brainer to carry your phone and use it for the everyday photos. Ones you wouldn't normally capture, because, really, does your DSLR fit in your purse? Not mine! LOL! Want to see what I'm learning? Check out my NEW Instagram feed in the right hand sidebar -- and click on the Follow me link to follow my Instagram feed! 

Hello . . . to getting ready for Thanksgiving. What -- you haven't heard of it? It's that nearly forgotten holiday between Halloween and Christmas. The day we celebrate all in our life that we're grateful for. And I have so much. So many blessings to be thankful for. We'll be spending our day with family and friends.  

What are you saying hello to this week? I'd love to hear about it in the comments below! 

Hello Monday is a Lisa Leonard inspired practice. 
The Hello Monday header is courtesy of Katrina Simeck.

 Until next time, 

 

Hello Monday!

Ah. Hello, Monday! Hello July! Here are some things I'm saying hello to this week: 

Hello, yummy Bountiful Basket! I wish I had taken a photo -- we have cherries, cantaloupe, squash, bananas, mangoes, grape tomatoes, lettuce, celery, grapes, onions, LOTS of numminess!!  I can't wait to try out a few new recipes to use up this harvest!!  If you haven't heard of Bountiful Baskets, click on the link above and see if they're available in your area!!

Hello, sweet friends!!  We have visitors this week, friends who moved to TX several years ago and whom we haven't seen in about 5 years!!  I'm so excited to see Amy and her beautiful girls -- who are growing SO big!  We're getting together tomorrow night for dinner.  *Happy Dance!*

Hello, Independence Day!  Of course, here in the US, July 4th is our Independence Day.  So excited, because it means my hubby gets a day off, and we can just veg.  No plans, really, except to bar-b-Que with a close friend and then set off fireworks after dark.  I'm excited for the sparklers, and for trying some fun new DSLR Camera techniques to try to capture some awesome fireworks photos!

Hello, Coffee Date!  Looking forward to meeting my good friend for coffee on Thursday, catching up on life and sharing some laughs. 

Hello, Hoard.  Yes. You read that right.  Have you seen this?

via

Unfortunately, it works the opposite on me.  I watch that show, and realize I have those tendencies!  So, I'm in the process of purging my house, one room at a time.  Donating, throwing, shredding, reorganizing; whatever it takes to NOT be invited onto the show!  LOL! 

Hello, heat.  Blerg.  I don't like when it's so hot -- especially when said heat (and resulting dryness) leads to the horrific wildfires that are burning all over the western U.S.  Our hearts and prayers go out to those who have lost everything -- or anything -- and pray for cooler temps and cleansing rain. 

What are you saying hello to this week?

Hello Monday is a Lisa Leonard inspired practice.

Hello Monday header is provided by Katrina Simeck. 

Until next time,

Hello Monday!

Ah, May 21st.  One month to the longest day of the year!!  Hard to imagine -- time just seems to fly by!

Hello, Annular Eclipse.  Yes, I'm in UT, although the Northern part.  And no, I didn't drive 4 hours to Southern UT to get the best view of the eclipse.  I guess I'm just not that dedicated.  The pictures on the internet did it justice.  (Although, if my DH had "suggested" the drive, I probably would have gone!) 

Hello, Vacation! It's hard to believe that over the next two weekends, two dear, dear ones to me and my husband will be graduating from high school. (Since we were unable to have children of our own, we live vicariously through our friends and relatives!)  

• First,  Hello, Bailee.  We've known Bailee since she was about 18 months old.  Mike went to college with her dad.  And her mom and I have been BFFs for, like, ever.  (Well, ever since about 1995.)  And we're godparents to her younger brother. She'll be going to college in the fall majoring in nursing.  She is sweet and funny, and we are so proud of her!  Isn't she gorgeous?  

• Second, Hello, David.  Our nephew.  This one, we've known since before he was born.  We officially met when we drove down and helped out my sister right after his birth.  And, oh, did I fall in love!!  Such a sweet, cuddly, happy baby!  (I'd post pictures, but I don't want to embarrass him!)  We lost his mom two years ago, and while I know it's been difficult for him, he has become such a wonderful young man.  Handsome, responsible, funny, kind, and compassionate.  I know my sister is proud of the young man he's become, and so are we!! See the breast cancer pin he's wearing?  That's in honor of his mom.  When I asked Debbie (the photographer) who's idea that was, she said it was his.  That he wanted to honor his mom in the pictures, and that he feels that she is with him.  Sniff.  (Side note -- he looks so much like her in this photo!)  Can't wait to get to spend 5 days with him and his dad! Here is his senior photo, courtesy of  Romeyn Photography.

Hello, "31 Things".  with Ali Edwards.  Check out the link (click on "31 Things") to read all about the class.  I'm having fun journaling along with her, telling 31 stories about my life.  Can't wait to put my album together when I'm through.  (I know, just what I needed.  Another online class. It's an addiction, I tell you!)

Hello, Laundry. Didn't I mention this last Monday?  Funny thing, there's more.  And since we're leaving on a jet plane, it kinda has to get done.  Soon.  Maybe I should try to invent self-cleaning clothes.  And self-ironing.  And self-folding.  Yeah.  I'm right on top of that, Rose.  (Name that movie!!)

Hello, Rain.  We had a lovely few days of cooler weather towards the end of last week, with wonderful, drenching rain.  My flowers on my back porch, and the roses in my garden out front, LOVED it.  Me, it's a love/hate relationship.  I love the rain, but not so much the mud that the girls drag in.  'Cause, you know, digging in the mud with all four paws is FUN, Mom!

Hello, HIDA scan.  Yes, unfortunately it would appear that I might have gallstones. Meh.  SO, off I go in the morning for this lovely "nuclear medicine test."  Doesn't that just sound pleasant??   As if gallstones aren't bad enough. 

What are you saying hello to this week??

Hello Monday is a Lisa Leonard inspired practice.  

Hello Monday header is courtesy of Katrina Simeck. 

Until next time,

Hello Monday

Hello May 14.  As in, yay, we're done with Mother's Day.  I know.  I'm a bad person, but I really hate Mother's Day -- especially now that my mom and MIL are both gone.  But for me, whose goal in life was to be a mom, after struggling with 10+ years of infertility and treatments, and just this past year having my tubes tied and an ablation done so there is no more possibility of being said mom, it's a day I can well do without. (If that was an over-share, I apologize.)

Hello, yummy, tasty Mango Salad.  Made for dinner last night with items from our bountiful basket.  Seriously, a new fave. 

Hello, healing puppy.  Our Sadie-bug, (75 lb. lab/shepherd mix) has been suffering from skin allergies the past couple of weeks, and then on Thursday, had a cyst on her back that ruptured.  Therefore, hello trip to the vet to have it lanced and cleaned.  Looks much better after a weekend of meds and ointment -- but she looks funny with the big shaved spot on her back!  (Shh, don't tell her I said that!)   

Hello, beautiful rosebuds!  My rosebushes are being slow to bloom this spring, but are FULL of buds getting ready to bloom!  I just hope we get to see some of them before we leave for graduations! 

Hello, sweet great-niece!  You are growing so fast -- I wish you lived closer so I could just squish those sweet cheeks and hug that sweet little body!  (And, yes, the sand is blue.  Apparently, Crayola makes colored sand.  Who knew??)

Hello, frozen coffee.  (Frozen mocha, if we're being technical, with peppermint and and extra shot of espresso.)  Lovely little local place.  AWESOME coffee.  Although my hubbs would disagree that this actually qualifies as coffee.  But with 80* weather this week, I'm thinking frozen sounds pretty dang good. 

Hello, recumbent bike.   Hoping to get my grove on and build strength in my legs and back in preparation for our summer trip to AK this year.  Of course, this means cleaning out our downstairs to make room for the bike . . . trust me.  You don't want to see those photos.  I don't need any of you reporting me to Hoarders.  

What are you saying hello to this week?  

Hello Monday is a Lisa Leonard inspired practice.  
Hello Monday header is courtesy of Katrina Simeck. 

Until next time,

Hello Monday

Can you believe it's already the 7th of May??  I can't!  The year is almost half over!  Here are some things I'm saying hello to today:

Hello strawberries!  I picked up a flat with my Bountiful Basket on Saturday, and have been rinsing and cutting all afternoon!  I LOVE strawberries!  (Apparently, so do the puppies!  LOL!)

Hello laundry.  How can two people create so much laundry?  It's beyond me.  Well, that, and I tend to let it pile up, because I don't like to do it.  But that's beside the point.  

Hello menu making.  I'm still trying to get better about planning a weekly menu and going grocery shopping once a week, especially now that we're getting most of our produce through www.bountifulbaskets.org (awesome program, BTW -- you should check it out!). 

Hello haircut!  I'm off to see my own personal wizard, Cindy Lou, tomorrow, for a trim -- just in time for our 2 week graduation trip coming up!

Hello soreness.  I cannot tell a lie.  We cut down our cherry tree on Saturday.  Why, you ask?  Well, it just had . . . issues.  The biggest of which was that there are apparently not enough "male" bing cherry trees in our neighborhood, so we didn't get a lot of flowers or fruit.  So, a "Stella" will be replacing the Bing in short order.  Apparently, "Stella" doesn't need a man.  ;)  But sawing all those branches down to fit in the pickup?  Oh, my aching shoulder!

Hello barbeque!  SO excited for warmer weather and full propane tanks!  That means yummy grilled dinners -- tonight it's bratwurst.  Along with the fresh produce, it makes for a yummy meal! 

Hello Bible Study.  So happy to be able to join in with my family this afternoon on our Bible Study.  I've been out of the loop for a couple of weeks, and it feels good to be back in the Word!  

Hello Blue Skies!  Looks like perfect weather this week.  Sunny, and in the low to mid 70s.  Perfect.  Yep.  Lovin' it.  :)

What are you saying hello to this week?  

Hello Monday is a Lisa Leonard inspired practice.  Like the cute header??  It's made, and used with permission, by Katrina Simeck. 

Hello Monday!

Hello Spring! Hello beautiful lilacs! I've been waiting all winter for your yummy fragrance!

Hello Cherry Blossoms. Your beautiful, fluffy presence all over the valley makes me smile.

Hello . . . winter? Just for a day!

Hello play at the Desert Star. Hello, my love. Hello dinner at Olive Garden with friends, and a fun Saturday evening out.

Hello, Easter Sunday. Hello, Risen Christ! Allelujah!

Hello, Monday!
Hello pedicure with my bestie.
Hello spring cleaning.
Hello taxes. Really. We're in the final stretch!
Hello "beauty salon" appointment for the girls. Bath and brush {hopefully} = less dog hair in my house!
Hello tapering off medication; therefore, hello brain zaps. Don't ask.

What are you saying hello to this Monday? I'm linking up with Lisa Leonard! Let me know what you're up to this week! Until next time,


 

Hello, Monday!

Hello, Monday! And Hello, April 2nd! I've been MIA for a month, and this will be a new feature on my blog. I'm linking up with Lisa Leonard over at Lisa Leonard Designs Blog .

Hello Daddy. Today would be your 82nd birthday. And though you've been gone 20 years, I still miss you! Thinking of you today, and every day. I love you! 

Hello laundry.  Meh.  

Hello menu planning and grocery shopping.

Hello phone calls for dr. appointments.

Hello Project Life.  It's been awhile.  I hope to start catching you up on things!

Hello Taxes.  We're down to the nitty gritty, and I have to get you done.  

Hello haircut -- hopefully you'll help my curls behave!

Hello Holy Week -- beginning the journey to the cross with Christ.  But that's okay -- I know how the story ends!

What are you saying hello to this beautiful Spring Monday?  

Until next time,