Time with Friends & my first Estate Sale

Last week seems like a blur!  Anita came over for lunch on Monday and spent the afternoon.  She has been under a lot of stress lately with the illness and passing of her dad, plus her youngest daughter is getting married in 3 weeks.  We had a good afternoon of visiting.  Wednesday I sat in on a Jobs For Life class, in conjunction with my new volunteer job at Center of Hope.  Then Thursday, I actually started advising...what an experience!  It was a crazy day!  Only one other adviser showed up and the waiting room was full.  The director sat in with me to help out, and she ended up having to do most of the work on 2 clients...very difficult cases.  The center is open from 10-2, but it was 3 before I got away.  I was ready to crawl in a hole and never return!  I guess it is good to get some "doozies" out of the way early on, but it left me feeling so ignorant and incapable of doing the job.  Hopefully this week will go more smoothly!

Friday morn, Dennis called and told me about an estate sale on his route.  I headed over there and looked around.  It was a beautiful house filled with gorgeous antiques.  Pretty much everything was out of my price range, but it was fun to look.  I finally stumbled across a pair of "desk ends" out in the garage.  They were perfect for bedside tables and only $20, so I purchased them...one for Dennis' nightstand and one for the guestroom.  I also found a set of pretty plastic storage canisters for the pantry.  It was my first estate sale.  I was amazed at the number of customers!  There were 2 cashiers going fulltime and you still had to wait in line for 15-30 minutes to checkout.  I was also a bit taken aback by the prices...I'm used to garage sales!  However, the quality of the furnishing was excellent...there were a lot of dealers there!

Saturday was our "ladies day out."  Josephine, Nancy and my girls came over and we spent the day shopping and visiting.  First stop was the estate sale again!  After having lunch at a downtown sandwich shop, we browsed through "junktique" and interesting stores in the downtown area.  It was fun and we all enjoyed our time together. 

Houston and Sue were at Highway Sunday.  Houston had agreed to come speak for us that morning.  I always enjoy hearing his lessons and visiting with the two of them!  He gave a wonderful lesson on "lying"... with a special emphasis on lying to ourselves...very insightful, as usual!  Sunday night, Ron gave a very interesting lesson on Genesis 14.  He always has a different "spin" to his chapter studies that I really enjoy.  Then the Rasmussens, the Moores, the girls and Dennis and I went to CiCi's for supper...another great Lord's day!

Dennis actually had his day off yesterday...first time since Labor Day (other than Sundays).  He really needed the rest and even got a few things accomplished.

I am really enjoying this cooler fall weather.  We are still getting up into the 90's during the days, most of the time, but the evenings are much cooler and we've been blessed with a few rains over the past 2-3 weeks.  I'm getting really excited about our Mother/Daughter weekend coming up in a week and a half!  I checked the long range forecast for Eureka Springs and it shows it being in the 60's and 70's while we are there.  It ought to be a great weekend!

Ps 94:19 In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.

Another week closer to fall!

I've really been enjoying this cooler weather!  It feels like fall is just around the corner.  We have a few more days of predicted 100+ temps this week, but I'm hoping that will be the last of this record breaking heat.

I went to see the cardiologist last Tuesday.  My EKG and echocardiogram were both good.  He wanted to go ahead and schedule me for a stress test (this Wed.)...just to be sure everything is fine.  He's not worried about finding anything...just playing it safe!  I had my bloodwork redone on Thursday and my cholesterol has dropped about 20 points - both the LDL and total cholesterol.  So no medications are needed!  I've been reading a book about preventing Alzheimers, which has some dietary and exercise recommendations.  I've been trying to incorporate them into my regular diet/exercise regime.  The diet is pretty much the regular heart-healthy plan with special emphasis on getting plenty of anti-oxidants and omega-3 fish.  I'm not able to do everything it recommends (I think you'd need to be in a higher income bracket than I am to do so!), but am trying to fit berries, cruciferous and green-leafy veggies into my daily diet...along with my oatmeal and apples.  TRYING to do tuna or salmon a couple of times a week, too.  I've always feared developing Alzheimers and I really want to do all I can to try to avoid it...for my family's sake!

I took Sherlock for his first checkup last week.  He is perfectly healthy and they guestimated his age at about 5 months, which means he is old enough to be neutered.  He has an appointment to go in the morning for that.  He has turned out to be a pretty good kitten, although he is a big crybaby!  He is pretty well-behaved, for a cat, and so gentle and loving.  I enjoy bringing him in to hold in my lap while I'm relaxing...such a stress reliever, having a purring cat to pet.  I've avoided having a pet for a long time, but I'm glad I decided to go ahead and take the plunge again.

Had a crazy day at my volunteer job Thursday!  I'm supposed to be training to become a client adviser...processing the paperwork, determining eligibility, and helping direct them to the appropriate organizations that might be able to help them.  It was so busy last week, that I mostly just sat around and watched the madness.  One lady came in (on her day off) to help and brought her two little boys with her, so I ended up being their babysitter for the first hour or so.  I'm beginning to understand the process a little better, but there is still so much to learn.  I'm not sure how long it will be before I'm ready to start advising.  The thought makes me pretty nervous!  I've been tempted to change my job to just data entry and office help, but advisers are what they really need the help with...plus I REALLY want to work with the clients.  It is just a big step for me out of my comfort zone!

I spent most of the day Friday working on Renee's 30th birthday cake.  James planned a big surprise party for her Saturday night at the Fields' house.  She was TOTALLY surprised!  There was a great turnout:  about 30 adults and close to 20 kids.  It was a lot of fun. 

I have another full week ahead of me this week, Lord willing:  Sherlock's appt. tomorrow, my stress test in FW Wed., working at C of H Thurs., and doing another cake for a "stag party" Friday (the stag party is going to be at the shooting range, so the cake will be a gun!).  I'm fighting a bit of a cold, so I hope my energy level stays high enough to accomplish everything planned.  I hope everyone's week goes well!

From yesterday's lesson: 
Jas 4:13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: 14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. 16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.

35 Year Tradition!

Our Labor Day weekends spent in Valliant are truly a time of refreshing!  We left MW after Sheila got off work and made it to Paris around 11:00 that night.  Ricky and Josh beat us there by about 30 minutes.  We visited for an hour or so before we all headed off to bed.  After a wonderful breakfast the next morning, we loaded up and headed out for Valliant.  The crowd was a bit smaller this year...around 50 all together...but the fun and fellowship were still up to par!  Stephen grilled hamburgers and hotdogs for lunch as folks were coming in and catching up on the latest with everyone.  There were the ubiquitious games of 42, Nerts and some washer tossing along with lots of visiting and laughter.  Then a new something was added:  Minute to WinIt competition.  Six "lucky" people were chosen to participate:  Kyle Y, Josh A, Ricky, Sheila, Mandy and me.  The first challenge was to sit on an upside down bathmat and scoot across the room, NOT using your hands, around an obstacle course of chairs.  This old woman didn't know if she would make it all the way, but I finished in 53 seconds.  Sheila was the winner in 28 seconds!  We also had to remove Kleenexes from their box using only one hand (Ricky cheated and won by holding the box between his legs!); move cotton balls from one plate to another using our Vaseline tipped noses; stack cups into a pyramid and collapse them into one stack; toss toilet paper rolls through hoola hoops by throwing them through our legs backwards, and finally trying to remove jingle bells from a Kleenex box tied to our backs without using our hands.  The audience got plenty of laughs from watching us!  The grand prize winner was Kyle.

I LOVE this bag!

Before the competition we had our annual fundraising auction.  Kyle did his usual super job as auctioneer.  About $500 was raised this year to send to a family in need.  Belinda (a newcomer this year) was our star contributor with all of her beautiful crocheted handiwork...and of course the famous "boo boo bunnies". 

Lovely hat, Kyle!

Sometimes you have to use any method you can to win a bid!

Leland won the "surprise" package:  2 gerbils!

The cookoff this year was anything chicken.  There were chicken enchiladas, chicken casseroles, chicken pasta, chicken salad, but the winner was a scrumptious Chicken Pot Pie, made by Nicole and Chelsey...3 time winners!  The competition entries provided our supper for the evening.  After the sun went down we headed over to the ballpark for the traditional softball game.  Fun times!

We enjoyed two wonderful assemblies Sunday!  Ken gave an excellent lesson that morning on "Life Happens"...assuring us that in spite of all the difficulties that we WILL face, God is faithful to see us through it all.  Then Dennis followed Sunday afternoon with a heartfelt lesson on prayer...content rather than mechanics.  Both were very emotional and inspiring!

The weekend ended with the much looked forward to ice cream supper at Kit and Ray's house.  The weather was perfect, the ice cream was delicious, and the company was great!  It is always sad to say goodbye to everyone, but we always look forward to next year!

From Ken's lesson:  Isa 46:4 And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.
From Dennis' lesson:  Eph 3:16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.