Random Thoughts... with coffee in hand....

1. I love Starbucks..... venti skinny latte', 3 pumps white chocolate mocha, no whip. MMMmmmm....

2. My grandson, Christian.... completely adorable! He spoiled me rotten yesterday. I dropped Cali off at the groomer, which she BADLY needed, and was swinging by the bank to get some $$$, and the phone rings. "Hello?" "Hello, Grandma!" "Hello Christian! I love you!" "I come to your house, Grandma?" "Yes, Christian, come to my house!" "MOM, I DON'T HAVE A CAR, JORY HAS IT." "No problem, I'll just drive over and get him." "YAY, Grandma!!!"

3. Christian & I went to Target, mainly to get me some more groceries, and we HAD to buy a train... a Thomas the Train train set. Train set = $40.00. Extra engine named Billy = $10.99. Extra set of 2 cars that make silly giggling sounds = $10.99. Watching Christian play with the train set for FOUR HOURS = PRICELESS. In fact, I had to beg him to go outside and play with me.... He didn't wanna go home, poor Dyan...

4. I picked up boulders today for using on the set of "Camp Wallaballa." Wendy Hix at Hix & Sons Aquatics & Artificial Rocks is loaning them to me. Actually, I'll buy two of them and keep at my house in my garden... They are so cool. I can pick them up & carry them without getting winded, AND they are so sturdy, the kids can sit on them or stand on them during our production. I love them.

5. I found what I want for Mother's Day. At Wendy's house, she has a bubbling bird bath.... I want it. It's a fountain, with the top being shaped like a birdbath. It can sit next to our deck, in the bed with the holly bush & ivy ground cover... underneath a bird feeder. It will have a lovely gurgling sound, and give the birds a great place to bathe.... I want it.

6. The children's musical is coming together nicely. But boy, it's a LOT of work. I feel like I'm always running 2 steps behind on everything... I completely forgot about arranging for the reception after the Sunday night performance.... so had to quickly rally up some cookies and make sure my friend C. K. would be taking care of the decorating & manning the stations, and she'll also take care of the punch. I need to send her a list of those who have responded to my email requests for cookies...

The set is complete, except for the backdrop, which my friend E. N. will be painting a mountain scene on. Yay for good friends / choir moms who are also artists. She's also hosting a baby shower for Dyan on Saturday.... cannot wait.

The kids were singing so lackluster last Wed. I don't know what is up with that. They totally lacked energy. I was a little cranky, and I really need to try making it more fun for the kids. I think they're having fun.... I called Shelly, my Choir 2 director, after last week's rehearsal and asked if she thought I was too cranky, or what I need to do to change, and she was very supportive. Dyan & Meg both say that they're gonna keep me drugged up on percoset next week, lolol. Silly girls. I'll be OKAY, you hear me??? It's just that the kids were not cooperating with me and there were TOO MANY PEOPLE in the gym making noise that was very distracting to the kids. Dyan said we should have closed rehearsals from now on. No more youth kids congregating in the back watching.... no more choir parents congregating in the back chatting it up... The sound / light / powerpoint tech people need to keep it quiet... So, that the kids can concentrate and keep their focus on me, the director! They were so lackluster last week in their singing, that it was completely under pitch. Not acceptable.... So, what can I do? I can bring the tempo up a bit, make sure the drummer is there to add energy.... and well, I dunno what else. I'm fried out just thinking about it right now.

My goals in this musical: 1~ to give the children life long memories of serving the Lord thru the musical; 2~ to get the promises of God put into their beings, so that they will recall those scriptures when they need it; 3~ to help them feel empowered to teach the gospel thru the music that they sing; 4~ to encourage the children in the work that they are doing in putting this production together; 5~ to make the teen helpers feel empowered and confident in their roles as staff members of the KCC; 6~ to spread the Word of God through the music & script; 7~ to bring others into the church thru our ministry

7. Okay, Don just called and wants to meet me for lunch. The Peanut.... they have pretty good burgers, which sounds really good today.

8. I love my husband. He totally helped me with the garden this week. The past several summers, I have not had time, nor energy to work in the garden, and it was overcome with weeds. I love my garden, and this year, I have the energy to put it back together. However, I don't have the strength anymore. So, on Tuesday, I went to the deck and took out the old mums from the fall, and planted my potato vines. Task Done. Then I went to the small bed next to the deck, where my holly bush is. I needed to hoe away the weeds. It's about a 4 x 4 size of bed, and I thought I was going to DIE. Literally. I got it done, and bagged the weeds, and planted ivy for ground cover. Then I had to take an iced tea break. Don came home and asked why doesn't he just go get a roto tiller and till up the garden beds. So, I relented, especially since we have clay soil and hoeing it was nearly killing me. He came home again with a tiller and a great tool that I absolutely loved using.... an attachment to our propane tank with a torch on it, and I BURNED those weeds away!!! Nearly caught the picket fence on fire too, but Don was ready with the hose. So, my five large beds were completely burned up. Don then tilled the soil, I put Preen on it and raked it in, and then did the planting. I put in 5 tomatoes, 2 are grape tomatoes & 3 are large tomatoes. In my perennial bed I planted about 20 new plants - several butterfly bushes, salvia, sedum, gardilla (sp?) and it's quite lovely now. I also have an herb bed and I saved one of my chive plants and replanted it after burning & tilling.... I need to purchase my herbs to put back out there. Have you ever smoked burning mint & oregano??? My oh my...... The other bed is my bulb bed and it's full of daffodils right now, and my peony is starting to bloom & I have a rose bush & a hydrangea there. Both are coming back from the winter. The center small bed is waiting for an ornamental tree.... probably a dwarf dogwood. Then I just need to get Jory to bring me a load of mulch, and i"m good to go. I love my garden and will take pics soon....

8. Gotta go meet Don for lunch...... So see ya latahhhhhhhh.....

An Update, a Quick Update....

Okay SCOTT, I'm updating! (but honestly, I have no idea why you read my blog.... I"m so boring!)

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It's Easter Weekend. Last night was our Maundy Thursday service. It commemorates the Last Supper. I love these Holy Week services, because if nothing else in our faith & religion, our faith and religion hinge on this weekend's events being factual. If it weren't true, why would we believe? And I do believe. I have seen clear evidence of how God works in our lives. Julie, He is real. And He loves you.

Tonight is our Good Friday service, commemorating the crucifixion. My favorite phrase for tonight is, "It's Friday, but Sunday's coming!" Yes, indeed. My children's choir, the Choir 3 group, will be singing tonight.... "A Lenten Love Song".

Now Jesus went into the garden.
The garden of Gethsamane.
He went there sad and very weary
to be alone to pray.

"Dear God, your Son is sorrowful
is there no other way?
Dear God if it is possible
let this cup pass away.

Now Jesus went into the garden.
The garden of Gethsamane.
The olive tree bent over Him
and heard Him sadly pray.

"Dear God, Your Son is sorrowful
but knows Your way is best.
Let love take hold of me
help me to be bold and free
to do your will.
to do your will.
to DO YOUR WILL
and rest.

Ubi caritas, et amor.
Ubi caritas, deus ibi est.
Translation:
Where Charity and Love are found, God is there.

Meditate on those words. Where CHARITY and LOVE are found.... GOD IS THERE.

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I cannot wait for Easter morning. Big day at church..... breakfast at 8:00. I teach my toddler class at 9:00. I will attend worship at 10:30. Great music, great testimonies, great message, and we serve a risen Lord, hallelujah!

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Meghan is very sick. She cannot stop throwing up. She is losing lots of weight. She spent the other night in the ER getting fluids pumped back into her. Poor thing.... Wish I could do something for her. It's hard as a mother to see your child hurting so badly and not being able to do anything to help her.

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The musical set is built. YAY. I have a wonderful choir dad - Barth, who helped out so much. I got the set painted with the help of Dyan & the Sciolaro family. We also put up the skirting around the stage. It's looking good! A few more weeks and this musical is OVER. Yay! I'm looking forward to the break. I need the break! There's just so much left to do beforehand.... oy....

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Dyan & I are going to see The Phantom of the Opera on Tuesday night next week. I cannot wait! We'll go out to dinner first, just the two of us.... and then to the theatre, sitting down close to the stage. It's my Christmas gift, and my heart is touched, and I'm so excited to go! We'll get all dressed up too! Yay!

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Christian is simply adorable. THe other day, while Dyan & I were painting the stage, he was playing in the gym. He was having a ball. And when I was really thirsty, we went and got a bottle of water from the machine, and we sat down and shared it. And every time he'd take a drink from the bottle, he'd look at me and smile really big and say, "Thank you, Grandma!" ADORABLE. I just love that little boy.... he's so special to me. I never had a son. Always wanted one, but it was never to happen. So, this grandson of mine is kinda filling that void. I love being with him..... always. Having grandkids is so much fun, I can't wait to have more! Oh wait......... May / June & October is coming!!! YAY!

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And that's my life so far....