Influence

I am way too old for guilt!

If I were able to remember way back, I could find way too many things to feel guilty about. At this stage of my life I can only focus on going forward. I truly believe that is a true "sign of life".

I have just finished the cleaning of our master bath for the, ah ah maybe thousandth time. Probably should have done this a week or so ago, but at this rate I won't have to do it for a while again. Really a good thing the bathroom police hadn't shown up yet. My mother certainly wouldn't have let it get to this state. No, my mother never seemed to put things off, nor did she really ever take the time to sit down, much less to read a book. When you have a parent like her, you can have a tendency to feel guilty about a lot of things.

My mom did enjoy a good cup of coffee however. I believe coffee was about her only vice. Every time we would go shopping or take a short trip, or need to talk, she would sit down for a few minutes with a cup of coffee. I miss her but also know she's in a place where all the coffee is free.

We grew up in a parsonage, so my mother felt a real need to live in a "perfect" home. Our house was owned and provided by the congregation, therefore it needed to be treated with respect. You never knew when one of the "owners" may come by for a visit.

All of us were used to living in an organized place with an attention to detail. I believe that is why I feel guilty or uncomfortable if I am not on top of things in our home. It is difficult to maintain those same standards and to fit in personal needs I.e. reading, blogging, face booking, texting, etc. maybe if Mom had some of these obligations in her life, she would have had a more relaxed life.

It is good to reflect on our past and evaluate the standards set for us to see if those standards are still part of our current life. Thanks Mom and Dad for the life you provided us kids. It has kept a continued influence on me.

Miss you,
Jan

LOVE IT!

A day late but not a wish short for a beautiful day filled with as many valentines as you can carry!

We had a wonderful day from start to finish. I am starting each day by walking, not jogging, on our tread mill for 30 minutes. May not sound like much to you, but to me it's a pretty big deal. Steve and I are also spending our days at our son's home. Steve is finishing the basement and I am refinishing old furniture for the basement. It's fun to accomplish something and keep each other company. Perhaps someone should check this observation with Steve, however, I may just be interrupting his thought process when I need assistance.

Our Valentines evening ended with our children, spouses and their children joining us for a wonderful dinner. Couldn't have asked for a better day. What fun to to have your favorite people surround you on Valentines Day.

Here's wishing you hearts of love from our house to yours.

Jan

Travels

Over 23 hours in the car with only the two of us together. We did have a break periodically when we took advantage of the local gas station restrooms. but that was the extent of it.

I.want to make it perfectly clear that this was not an imposition for either of us. After nearly 43 years together, Steve and I still enjoy each others company. Our trip, both ways, was a pleasant journey. The diversified landscapes captures the eyes and hearts of travelers. How can our world be so beautiful in so many ways?

It is such a privilege to have the opportunity to travel to Arizona to enjoy the scenery, weather, relatives and sights. Our dear neighbors entrusted their new Fountain Hills home to us, so this made the trip soooo much more pleasant.

We are safely home enjoying beautiful temperatures. There is a blizzard looming in the near future. Can hardly wait.

Sunny now,
Jan

New Year

Most people don't usually get as excited as I do about cleaning, but I get a high from it. I've talked before about my laundry room, how I have it decorated, makes me feel like doing my laundry and keeping it organized. It's the little things that make me smile. The door pulls are butterflies, dragon flies and bees. They make me smile when I look at them. The wall organizer came from Pottery Barn and gives the room the custom look. The pictures of the grandchildren are what inspire me each day.

This past week Steve and I tackled our pantry. How often does a person take everything out, give it good cleaning, throw out the expired items and mentally take an inventory of what you have. How nice it is when you know you already have an item and also know where it is. I am so fortunate to have a large, walk-in pantry and I am ticked pink that during construction I requested a "refrigerator" light for the room. I wanted to make sure every time I opened the door the light was on and it would automatically turn off when the door closed. A convenience I just couldn't live without now.

Organization makes my heart sing. Perhaps it's because I married a "Mister Organized". I can remember our first apartment together. (We didn't live together before we were married, so a lot of things in the beginning were a surprise.). I learned pretty quickly that everything should have and be in its place.

Growing up in a minister's home, we lived in the parsonage, which was owned by the church our Dad was serving. Due to the fact that the home was not technically ours, Mom felt compelled to keep it "company ready" because the door was always open to the parishioners. When you're raised this way, you know no different, and it becomes a habit. Thank you Mom!

The New Year has begun and at our home many projects are underway. The decorations are securely put away for another year and anticipation is in the air for big snows and lots of inside time to do the little things we normally don't want to take the time to do.

Off to a place we hope will be at least as nice as it is here in Nebraska. Perhaps we'll miss a snowstorm while we are there.

Health and happiness in the new year for all,
Jan

Thankful

We have dodged a huge blizzard which is inundating Kansas, New Mexico and Oklahoma. We may see a few flurries and that will add to the festiveness of the season.

When I think of Christmas, I recall past times with family. I've spent the past 43 years with my husband, 40 years have included our son, Sean, and 38 years have included our daughter, Melinda. For the past 19 years we have been grandparents, and each year we have been more blessed than we could ever have imagined.

It's so easy to lose the spirit of this time when there are so many activities going on. Today I encourage you to take the time to go out of your way to do something unexpected for someone. Pray for not only guidance for yourself, but also for your neighbors, not only the ones you know, but for those you don't know. Behind each door are difficulties that are not necessarily shared. Smile, it is contagious. Be reflective. Be thankful for all that you are. Know that God will be by your side at all times. Thank the people you interact with. All of us need a boost of encouragement.

This may not be in your plans today, but now that I have written it down, it will be on my agenda.

Thank you to all of you for your support for me and my family. You give me strength each day.

Stay warm,
Jan

Yum!

Coffee in bed this morning, a treat from my favorite husband. What a nice gesture for a loved one. The decorating is complete, the shopping is done so next on the agenda is to finish up the baking. It's a good thing the inner baker comes out at these special times.


I've completed the banana bread and pumpkin bread mini loaves, the pecan sandies, Oreo/cream cheese balls, peanut butter blossoms, and white chocolate pretzel sticks. Today I'm going to tackle decorated sugar cookies. Wish me luck, I need it.

It's so nice to be retired and have the time to put together treats for friends who don't have the pleasure of time. I remember too well the stress of being young with children and working away from my home. So appreciative when someone remembered my family and shared their spirit of the season with us.

Keep your fingers crossed that I have all the ingredients I need today since I don't drive. Steve is busy working on our son's basement so he won't be home for a while. Oh well, it's always gives me a chance to touch base with the neighbors if I find I'm short of something.

Here's a great, easy recipe for all of you.

Oreo/cream cheese balls:  Cream together one package of Oreo cookies (crumbled) and eight ounces of cream cheese. Form into walnut sized balls. Refrigerate for over an hour, dip in melted almond bark. Cool.  Eat!

Love to you all!
Jan

Breathe

I am so excited to share our event from last Saturday morning. Steve and I hosted a fund raising Christmas brunch for our neighbors. It was time for the house to be adorned for the season, time to give to those less fortunate, time to bake, and time to share with friends. This was the perfect way to be motivated to do all of it at one time.

I like to take time to go through my house and decide how I want it to look and feel for Christmas. Steve always reminds me to "shop" the decorations he's displayed in the family room, before I decide I need to purchase something new. Funny that after 42 Christmas seasons how many things I have to choose from, even though I have deleted numerous items in the past. (Remember when everything had to look country or the homemade phase?). Well, when I feel the pressure of an event, I do much better setting a deadline rather than doing a little bit here and there.

The tree was adorned, the holiday dishes set the festive table, the menu was selected so the only thing left was to order the perfect morning weather. As it turned out, we could not have chosen a more perfect day for a brunch. In Nebraska, we had already had our first beautiful snow and the early morning brought a frost that turned the trees and bushes into shimmering white icicles. The temp was warm enough so some braved the short walk to our house in just sweaters and the sun shown bright.

Our company enjoyed mimosas, orange juice, coffee and a few bloody Marys. We served Creme Brûlée French toast, egg casserole, fruit, Swedish Hamballs and Christmas cookies.

Our generous guests brought donations for the women's shelter and later in the afternoon a few of us delivered them. I would call the effort a great success and a reminder to all of what the season is all about.

Today is the day I have set aside to start the Holiday baking. Must get the stash ready so I have something in hand when I visit my friends' homes.

I'm blessed to be able to still do this again this year. I must take advantage of these fleeting moments. The past two years, I didn't think I would have, have flown by too quickly.

Breathe, and enjoy the season,
Jan