Spring oh Spring...where are you?

We got a little taste of Spring and then bam! Right back into Winter! Forecast 3-7" in our area for tonight & tomorrow. Hmmm....Where is that groundhog at?
I am still on this journey towards better health. I have been at it for 24 days. I did not lose even a pound despite taking out dairy, gluten/wheat products/ processed foods. Eating whole organic foods as much as possible. Finally today I am down 2 1/2 to 3 lbs! But I have been losing inches all over my body & I feel better.

The sun is shining thru my window...

I am home today and the sun is shining thru the window reminding me it is a new day. After a long winter, it has been so nice this week. The time change means I get to enjoy more daylight hours after work each day. The snow is almost gone and today is supposed to be the warmest day so far this week. I need to stay inside and clean my house, but definitely will have to get out later. Maybe a walk? Hope to be productive today!
This is officially day 15 on my 28 day Freshstart/Detox and my weight has not changed even 1 pound. Not sure why but I am going to measure later and see if I have lost inches. I am determined to keep going for the whole 28 days and not give in.

Quote of the day: A smile costs nothing but gives much!

A Nice Quiet Saturday At Home

My son is gone this weekend. My husband went to work today and took ALL the dogs, so it's just me! I do enjoy spending time alone at my cozy house. I should be cleaning (which will happen soon) but I am catching up on the computer. I think after that I will get laundry, dishes, and baking going. What to bake? Bars? Cookies? Muffins? Hmm.... the guys do like to have something for breakfast that's easy to do since I'm usually gone to work before they are. Muffins for sure! Grandma's apple? Mom's struesel topped muffins? And maybe some bars for snacks. (For the guys of course!) And supper? I think some kind of casserole or crock-pot meal!
I plan on doing something crafty or scrapbooky (is that a word?) today too. I just LOVE my office/scrapbook room that my hubby made for me! Well I better go DO something - catch you later ~ N

Quote of the day: "It is not in the still of life, or in the repose of a specific situation, that great characters are formed." ~ Abigail Adams

WOW! The Snow is Melting!

It got so nice and warm today but of course the SD wind blew! Wind Advisory - mid afternoon the highest wind gust recorded about half an hour away was 59. The snow really disappeared today. Still alot left but a huge amount is now running everywhere. I've been out trying to keep it away from our house & basement. I do love my Bogs! And the kid in me kind of enjoyed a little sloshing in the melting snow. Don't tell my husband though!

Verse for today:
"The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: the Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: the Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace." Numbers 6:24-26

I got to be home today. Our numbers are down at work because so many kids are sick. The influenza has been going around and around this area. We have lysoled and cloroxed everything so many times! My husband took most of the day off too as he has a terrible cold. My son is gone for the weekend so we are "puppy sitting" his new dog. Buckwheat is such a puppy but he is getting better about accidents as long as you pay attention. We also have another puppy at our house for a few days. He is going to a friend's soon! They "fight"play hard and yet cuddle up to sleep.

I am a week and a half into a detox/freshstart program. I have completely taken out all dairy, gluten, sugar, processed foods. I am trying to only eat whole foods and as much organic or unprocessed as I can. We live in a mostly rural area with small town groceries so not as easy to find some things. I hope to find out what things bother my system. At the end of 28 days, I add things back one at a time to see how I react. I also was hoping for some weight loss but so far that has not happened. We will see how it goes.

The sun is shining & the frost is beautiful!

Is Spring coming soon? The sun is out and shining this morning and the new layer of snow and frost on everything is so beautiful! We are supposed to warm up this week. It will be a welcome change from all the cold.
I am enjoying an unusual full week day at home! Lots to do! Cleaning, laundry, dishes, things to take to the mail. I missed my Bible Study last night so will be doing it today. I am planning my fundraisers for the year for CF and need to get some things lined up before the Great Strides Walk in May. I have to make some changes at the house as I will probably be finishing out the school year teaching Preschool at my house instead of at church. I have baby gifts to wrap for all the new additions to my extended family! Yeah! New little ones are such a blessing!
But I have a wonderful lunch date today! My friend Callie is coming for lunch! She is home on Spring Break and we are going to enjoy visiting and catching up. She was my daughters good friend and then became mine. Can't wait! Guess I better go start the soup and get ready.
I wish only the best for my family and friends on this beautiful day! God Bless!

Today is a sad one

We are saddened today by the loss of a good friend who lost her battle with cancer. The Lord called her home yesterday, sooner than anyone of us was ready for. Now she breathes easy and has no more pain. The pain is with us as we struggle to understand why and miss her sweet personality and quiet strength, her joy, her music, her friendship. My thoughts and prayers are with her family as they cope with the decisions that need made and the day to day things that need handled in the midst of their sorrow. Lord give them your comfort and peace.
We will miss you Grace ~

More Remodel Pics

Pics of my office/scrapbook room as it is transformed. My mom is in the pic helping me prime and paint. This room is in a basement with a low ceiling and outside walls were cement. The inside walls were just paneling and there was only one outlet that was on a strip of wood running down the cement. There was 1 bare lightbulb with a pull chain in the center of the room. Now it has tons of outlets, track lighting and lighting under the cupboards. I am still accessorizing and finding just the right spot for everything! My Mom & I are working on curtains for under the countertop.

Our Basement Remodel

My Office/Scrapbook Room towards the beginning of our remodel. It used to be my daughters room (hence the lime green). My husband had to build a wall inside the cement wall to add electricity first. The room is 13 x 15 with a door in the southeast corner. The way our basement was built, you have to walk thru this room to get to the laundry room, the family room/guest bedroom and the storage room. So there is a doorway on the east wall and another in the northeast corner. Basically the east side is just the walkway thru the room. We salvaged a set of older cupboards(70's?) from an empty old house on some of my husband's boss's property. He did such a great job of installing them and adding shelves and making counter top out of recycled scrap materials. My mom & I painted them white and I Love it!

Still Winter

Snow Snow & more Snow!!! And COLD! Yes it is still winter here in SD. White everywhere! Did the groundhog see his shadow? Hmmm....Is this the last hurrah before spring arrives? We will just have to wait & see. But in the meantime, I guess I won't be putting away my scarf, mittens, coats, and nice new Bogs! And guess what I found out a week or so ago? My son's car has seat warmers!!! Who knew?? HeeHee! I have to laugh at myself sometimes. Ever since December 4, I have been driving his car and just discovered this! Leather seats in the winter are sooo much nicer when they are warm!!

SD Blizzard 2011

Well the weathermen were pretty accurate on their forecasts this time! At around 1am I started hearing sleet pelt the screen on my bedroom window. It went on for awhile so thinking it might be icey under all this snow! At 8am this morning, Wes had to go down to the elevator a few blocks down the back road from our house, here in Midland. He said the pickup was scraping the snow! If he would have let off the gas pedal he would have just stopped right there. He estimated we had 14" plus snow at that time and it wasn't done yet!
We were supposed to go to New Underwood for my nephews birthday party today but of course that was post poned. And no church eithor because of the weather. It is so nice to just be home and not have to worry about going anywhere. Doing laundry, dishes, getting things put away that build up during the week. Thinking about baking too! Maybe some soup too?
I had a fun day yesterday. My friend Renee had invited me to come scrapbook which I have only done once in the last 4 years. It was starting to snow a little so wasn't sure I should go but then it cleared up so off I went to Kadoka! It was a fun afternnoon of visiting and getting started scrapping again. Then I went to see Grandpa Shorty at his new place and visited with him, Aunt Joyce & Aunt Velma. I even got the guys a treat - (gizzards) before I came home and got to visit with Star and find out how more family was doing.
So far it has been a nice weekend and I get tomorrow off too so I may just do some more scrapbooking!
Hope all my family & friends are home safe & warm. Thank you Lord for my family and my nice warm house. Please be with all those that are not so fortunate and those we care so much about that are going through some tough times. Please bless Grace in her fight against this terrible cancer and our friend Will, Richard, Heather, Pam, and be with Delia's family as her fight is now over and she is with our heavenly family.
~ Nicki

Honor God

Honor God above all others, express your trust in Him , and then, through your praise and adoration, allow Him to provide you with the strength you need to wage the battle. Allow the Lord to fight for you. Because victory is sweet when you worship the Lord - and remember that the battle is His.

22 years ago today

It was -40 on this date, 22 years ago. The day my son was born! The day I became a mother. What a blessing! I am so proud to be his mother. We are lucky enough to have him close and get to see him everyday. I pray for him to have a blessed year and that many wonderful thinga will come his way. I Love you James!

Home

Home is not just a place, or a location. It's a feeling, a memory, a sound, sometimes a smell.
It can be someone you know and the memory of their laugh.
It can be tha feeling rising in your throat when you hug someone you haven't seen in a while.
Or that sense of belonging you get when you make a new acquaintance you didn't know you missed. ~ MaryJane & Megan

Cold ~ Winter in SD

Here it is February 1 and the temp was -6 at 7:45 this morning as I drove to work. The wind was blowing hard ~ windchill was very cold. At 5:45 this evening as I drove home from work the temp was -5. Possible -20 tonight. Just life in SD.

January ~ sadness...

4 years have passed since I lost my daughter & friend. It is hard most days, harder still in January. We all grieve in different ways. I have found that my way is not the same as my husband's or my son's. Theirs is not wrong, mine is not wrong ~ just different. I get caught unprepared sometimes. Things I had not thought of, or certain places, events, smells, food, colors,etc will stop me in my tracks. Sometimes I cry, sometimes I smile; and sometimes I do both. I miss the time we spent together. I miss her smile, her laugh, her smart, funny, sassy ways. I regret the things I said and left unsaid. I always wish I had worked less and took more time for little day to day things. I am glad for the time we had together. It makes me sad to think of the things she never was able to do. Some because of her health, some because she was gone from here too soon. I think of her all day, in almost everything I do and say. I think sometimes what she would do or say if she was here. She was wise beyond her 16 years. My love to you my daughter.