Comfort Food!

Still on the topic of what makes me happy, I just have to share that my favorite comfort food is a Turtle Sundae. I am a Turtle Sundae snob. There is a custard place here that has them but they don't put cherries in them so I don't go there anymore. There is another place I've tried but they use cheap toppings and you can taste the grittiness of the fudge and/or caramel so I don't go there anymore. Then there is a place that calls the ice cream "custard" but who are they kidding? It isn't custard any more than a kiddie bike is a Harley. And don't even get me started on the pecans! Gary and I drove to this "famous" custard place and when I got the Turtle Sundae it had tiny little crushed pecans sprinkled ever so lightly on it. WHAT IS THAT? Oh my gosh, we AREN'T ever going back there again. No don't mess with the Turtle Sundae, thankfully there is a place here that makes them good, not perfect like LaDuc's in Wales WI, but a close second.

So why is it comfort food? What is it about getting a Turtle Sundae and just slowly eating it that makes it change even the worst possible day into a day worth having? Is it the perfect mix of flavors that is combined in each bite? Is it the perfect blend of warmth from the toppings and cold from the ice cream? Is it the absolute beauty of the colors twisting together with each bite? Or is it the joy of finally biting into the cherry that I let sit in the cup with its bright red happy look until I can stand it no more? I don't know and I don't care. I will seriously skip an entire meal to save calories so I can have a Turtle Sundae. This is not a whimsy, it is a serious addiction and one I plan to enjoy for many years to come.

Contentment

I can be such a simple creature and a really complicated creature all that the same time. My husband was commenting to me that he felt it was amazing that I do the job I do and that in his opinion it is a really hard job. I think that his job being my husband might be the hardest job to do. He has to figure out when am I in need of simplicity and when will that just bore me. I am always amazed at how well he seems to cope with my ever changing mind and mood.

Since we moved to the apartment I have not walked in the park as much as I used to. I really miss that. I tried walking around the neighborhood but it just isn't the same. I occasionally drive to the park and take my favorite walk but my motivation just hasn't been there. What I really want is to walk out my door and the park path would be right there. Well guess what? That is exactly what I discovered I can do. I walk out my apartment and in less than 1/3 of mile I am on the PATH! Such a simple thing yet it gives me great joy.

This path goes for miles and miles. I walk two miles out, turn around and go home. This past Sunday I went for my walk and when I reached one section it had a bunch of evergreens that were planted in 1991. I closed my eyes and breathed in the sweet aroma. It filled my lungs and flooded my mind with memories of summers in northern Wisconsin. Pure contentment of simple times when all I had to worry about was should I go swimming or play in the sand.

How much is too much?

Have you ever been overwhelmed? Have you ever had so much to do that you were unable to do anything? I don't like to complain and am not even ever real excited about listening to others complain so I think I'll work on making a negative a positive. Here are a few reasons to rejoice when you feeling like there is no light at the end of the tunnel:

• If you have too much to do, rejoice in the fact that you are alive.
• If you are overwhelmed, rejoice in the fact that someone else must think you have talent and skills. Often that someone else is God.
• If you are immobilized, rejoice in the fact that you are taking a mental vacation.
• If you are too busy, rejoice in the fact that you are not lonely and bored.

Then when you are all done rejoicing sit back and realize that if you were starving and an elephant was in front of you cooked and ready to eat; no matter how hungry you were you could NEVER eat the entire elephant in one bite. In fact, you couldn't even eat one ear of the elephant in one bite. No, you would have to just tackle it by eating it one bite at a time. AND you would never be able to eat the entire elephant in one sitting.

So...

May all your "things" be brought down to bite size pieces, may you bite off only what you can chew, and may you always be content by completing just what can done.

I think I'll go eat supper now. :)

Spring City Band

Time seems like nothing when it comes to brothers and music. It had been nine years since they had played together with their friends Mark and Diane. Yet the harmonies were "spot on" and it seemed they enjoyed playing more now then ever before. The gig was at their parent's apartment complex and the seniors enjoyed every minute. They enjoyed the "Rock 'n Roll" tunes the most and I watched as they sang to each song and knew all the words. A few of them even got up and danced! When it was over they didn't want it to end and asked the band to keep playing. But after two straight hours the boys and Diane were done.

The best part, and where I personally found the most joy, was watching Gary's mom and dad. I am quite sure that for those two hours they were the happiest two people on this entire planet.


PS: Since this my blog and my story I just have to say that in my humble unbiased (hee hee) opinion my husband has still got it! No matter what type of music he plays or sings my heart beats with love just hearing and watching him. Music is his soul and it is so evident to see when I watch him perform.

House on a hill

Well not yet!

While in Wisconsin we visited my brother and his wife. They are building a home. When they started they found out that the property does not allow them to dig very deep due to ground water. Soooo, they had to build the garage first and it goes from the ground up. I think 12 feet in the air. Then the ranch home is built on top of that. My Uncle who has been building homes for decades now said something like, "it is the first ranch home I ever built that I need to use a ladder to get in it".

If you look at the house, the big open doors will be garage doors one day. As you can see you can't drive in them yet. Some dirt to build the hill that it will look like the house has been built on has been delivered but MUCH more is needed!

Here is a closer shot with Gary and Glenn standing at the open door. Knowing Gary's issue with heights I can tell that being this close to the edge is making him nervous.

When done I think this is going to be an awesome home and quite unique as Glenn and Eileen have designed it themselves. Perhaps next time when we get up to Wisconsin it will be finished and we won't have to use a ladder to get in.


Getting in using the ladder was scary but when we realized that the was only way out we thought maybe going in in the first place wasn't such a good idea. Gary walked around the entire house looking out all the doors and windows to see if there was a way to jump out. Alas, there was none. It took a long time but he eventually got up the nerve to get on the ladder and come down.

Home again, home again

Jiggety Jig!

What a weekend. We had a GREAT time. Visited my sister in Wisconsin Rapids area. We left Thursday and felt like storm chasers. More on that another time. It was a wonderful visit even though it was short. We left there and headed to Waukesha Friday morning.

On the way we stopped at Wisconsin Dells and walked around for about an hour. It was fun and we reminisced about going there early in our marriage. We believe that both our kids may have been conceived there (I know, TOO MUCH INFORMATION for some of you) so we didn't spend too much time there! Hee Hee.

Friday evening the boys (Gary and his brothers and their friends Mark and Diane) practiced for the gig they were doing on Saturday. It was fun to hear their voices and just to be together again.

Saturday morning we went out to see my brother and see the house he and his wife are building. It is very neat and maybe I'll do another blog just on that short visit as it is a good story and I have pictures!

Saturday the concert at Gary's parent's apartment complex (independent senior living community) was really a BLAST! 50-60 seniors rocking out, dancing, drinking and having a really good time. They all want the band to come back. Gary's parent's were the two happiest people in the room. I video taped it and I sure hope it turns out okay. I met a man who was in the same division Gary's dad was in WWII. It was really interesting meeting and talking with these wonderful people.

Then Sunday we got up said goodbye and got on the road again. Now we're are back home and I'm very tired so this post is done.

TGIW

What you say? TGI W??? YES! Very excited about having a long weekend. Especially since last weekend felt more like work than a weekend. Tomorrow we leave for Wisconsin. The land of cheese, beer, TREES, friends and family.

Gary and his brothers are getting the old (and I mean old) band together and doing a gig at his parents' apartment complex. I can't wait to see and hear them all playing together. It should be a lot of fun.

I'm also excited about getting in the car and driving for nine hours. REALLY! I love to drive and just enjoy the entire experience.

I'm stressed about leaving because there is so much to do here but as my pastor said "just leave it all here and enjoy every minute" which is what I intend to do.

Maybe I'll post while I'm gone (if I have access to a computer) and maybe I won't. We'll see.

Imagine

My dad sent me an email with pictures on it of a complete ski resort that was built in the middle of the desert. Really; ski lodge, mountain slope, snow, cable cars, the whole thing. Completely enclosed and from the outside the thing is gigantic. Who thought of this? Who built it? Who engineered it? And why? It seems like the people that pay to go there can afford to go to a real mountain and ski.

As I thought on this I also started to think about other man made things that just seem outlandish but work. Someone invents or creates these things. Imagine if you had that talent. Imagine if you could make something that was so impossible or awesome that the entire world noticed it and was amazed.

Nothing man has made or ever will make can compare to what is all around us. Creation.

I do not hold to the idea that there was bang and then all of sudden things began. Too much of what I see has design and purpose. You could even say it was engineered to look, behave and be a certain way. AND one thing is dependant on another and so on and so on. Accident? Coincidence? To be designed takes a Designer. To be engineered takes an Engineer. I think it was created and to be created there had to be a Creator. More than that this Creator has one up on us and always will have because He created something from nothing.

Imagine. Put your hands out and cup them. What is there? Nothing? Not really, there is air yet you still can't make something out of what is in your hands without something else to assist you. God had nothing, real nothing and out of it heaven, earth and the entire universe came into existence. WOW!

I started thinking about this because of a few pictures in an email. Then I remembered that a while back I was in a forest, thick with trees that were very tall. At the forest floor was dirt, dead leaves, a few sticks and some bugs. Due to the thick trees and leaves the sun was not able to reach the forest floor and so there was not much growing there. I thought it was sad until I saw this amazing purple flower peaking through some old leaves. Very small and a brilliant beautiful purple against the dark brown setting. I bent down and was moved to tears at the intricate details and beauty. I did not think "I wonder who planted this here?" or "Wow, what a cool accident of nature."; no, I thought "My God, my God, who is man that you would be mindful of us and put such beauty in such and unexpected place".

If God would that, IMAGINE what else He is doing that we are not seeing or even looking for.

Classic Gary

I know the kids will appreciate this post more than anyone else that might read it.

So, Gary and I went to our normal shopping area near our apartment but instead of turning right I decided to turn left and see what was there. There has been so much new building that I just needed to see it all.

We saw a Hen House (grocery store) and decided to check it out. It is an awesome store and our new favorite one. Gary was excited to see all the great bakery, produce, cheese, etc. they had. In each department there was actually a clerk who wanted to help you if you needed it.

Gary likes to talk with people and Kelly and I often giggle at it. Sort of reminds us of Jimmy Stewart in "The man who knew too much". Well, I stood next to him and heard him tell each clerk we met the same thing. "This is our first time in this store! It is great! We didn't even know it was here. We moved here a year ago. Before that we lived in western Shawnee. We are originally from Wisconsin and I was raised in Waukesha." And on and on from there.

Now it is not unusual for Gary to have a conversation like this with a perfect stranger. What was unusual and comical to me was that he had it over and over again. I just smiled and nodded while I was cracking up inside and wishing Kelly was with me to appreciate the humor in it all.

Ignorance is not always bliss

So we had our friends over last night. Had a great evening. This was our thank you to them for helping us move. If your asking yourself "didn't you move a year ago?" the answer is "yes". We are very busy people which is why we made the decision to sell the house and move to an apartment.

After the meal we sat and visited, talking, laughing, having a good time. After a while we heard this faint "beep beep beep...pause...beep beep beep". Gary kept asking "what is that?" to which I replied "you have legs and eyes go find out" (not sure why he puts up with me). But since we were all having such a good time we just stayed where we were and kept visiting just ignoring the beeping that when on and on.

As our friends were leaving we walked them to the hallway where we all smelled smoke and could hear the beeping a bit louder. When we got out the door we saw the neighbor's door open and went to see if all was okay. This young man, new to our country, new to not having a maids and servants had attempted to make supper. However, he had no idea that you needed to watch the thing you were cooking and really didn't even notice when a small fire had begun. Long story short it was VERY bad and we are lucky that he did have a fire extinguisher to use. I'm sure he will be cleaning the mess all weekend and that the landlord will be replacing some of the kitchen.

All is okay and we helped him get the smoke out so the beeping would stop. He was so sweet and kept apologizing for ruining our Friday evening. We assured it was not ruined and we appreciated having some excitement.

TGIF

YEAH! FRIDAY!

We have a VERY busy weekend planned. Tonight we are entertaining friends. Tomorrow I have a volunteer training I'm leading at the center and then after that I need to get home because Gary and I going to Worlds of Fun. That is a theme park here and his company has its annual summer bash there. Then Sunday I am speaking to a group of High School girls at a church during their Sunday school hour. From there I need to rush to my church. I'd stay at the church I'm speaking at except a friend of mine is going to go to my church and is bringing her Aunt to meet me. Then right after church is a Taco social. From their I (hopefully "we") are going to Topeka. There is an opening for a new center that is only focused on abortion recovery education. I'm very excited about that ministry and hope many more pop up like it!

WHEW! Weekends can be exhausting.