2012 ~ 277

Count Your Blessings.....Name them one by one.....

I am loved, my health is great, I have beautiful healthy children and grandchildren, I have a darling dog, I have wonderful friends, I have a good job with coworkers I love being with, I live in the very best country on the earth, in a great neighborhood, in a darling home, I have enough money in the bank to cover car hiccups, I have people around me (near and far) to help me when I need someone, I can have lemonade when ever I want it, my toes look great polished in 'Vamp', I have the "friends and family" plan on my phone...I have an iPhone, I can eat fruit year round, I own a great vacuum cleaner, I am happier than I have ever been!

Boys!!!

2012 ~ 278

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Nine and a half hours with my Very Best Friend! 

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The Hunger Games

2012 ~ 279

Cookie and I accompanied Mark
to look at tuxedos today.

Prom is in just under two weeks away.
I thought he would go

do the tux thing with his friends....
he invited his sister and mom!

We had fun at the mall...
Orange Julius for all and new

sun glasses for the girls!
Mark found the shoes that Amy had

been looking for to go with her Prom Dress
....so he bought them!!!(Love IT)
 (Mom found a have to have pair of shoes,

trying to win at the shoe shopping rehab thing!)

We found what we were looking for
at the Mes's Warehouse.

The color, cut and WOW factor!
Yep my boy looks sharp!

He wont let me post any photos
...Amy may see after all!

We rounded out the night
 with a family movie night!

The Hunger Games were great!
Intense and yes I cried....

like we all didn't see that coming!!
It was a very good evening!

2012 ~ 280

Sofa project is complete! 

Well, I do still have a bit if hand work to finish,
but I am very pleased with how
well it all came together! 

A big sloppy kiss and 'Thank You' to Diana, 

for the wonderful opportunity! 

I not only love it,but it made me want to pick
another DIY project!!!

2012 ~ 281

Sonnet

The gift of life should not be taken for granted,

even though it may be hard at times.

Step forward with both feet firmly planted,

no matter if life gives lemons or limes.

Push yourself to the hardest point you can,

unlike baseball you will not strike.

In life there may not always be a clear plan,

but it may be more enjoyable if your doing something you like.

There is nothing more valuable than knowledge,

only for more your brain should strive.

Whether you stop after high school or go to college,

learning more in this world is the best way to survive.

So whether you're appreciative of life or not,

give these few words of wisdom a moment of thought.

Mark Jensen 03/2012

Spring Break

Today is the last day of Spring Break.
And although my big plans didn't go as I had hoped,
I can say I have enjoyed it cometely!!
My daughter graduated!! The joy of that is
overwhelming! Loving friendships were strengthened.
And I have spent some wonderful time with my kids!
Silliness was had, along with epic stories,
heart to heart talks, plans for the future, feelings were
shares and some great movies and comedy
were viewed!! House work was caught upon and
much needed yard work was taken care of.
Projects were finished and new ones were started.
Nails were polished, and the love of flip flops was
rediscovered! I reached a personal financial milestone.
Shopping was done and meals were prepped and
frozen for another day. And my blog was updated!
It's been a great spring break, even though it may
have been short... I still have all day today!

Sunrise With My Best Friend!

Way To Live Each Day

Alan Dean Foster

Mr Foster was the guest speaker at my daughters graduation. I was fascinated with his ways of thinking and also the motivation he pours out and life lessons he has learned.

2012 ~ 282

I took a trip on Google earth today. 

I was hunting for a barn in the middle of the woods. 

Like a needle in a haystack. 

I found what I was looking for. But more than that,

I realized I found so much more.

Have you ever had that moment when you know 

you are at home. It's not so much a place, but a 

feeling. I feel that!

I am happy. With my life, with my world. No, I 

don't have everything I thought I wanted. But I 

found something along the way that makes me feel

at home. My world is right. Are all the pieces in 

place? NO! The knowledge that I am on the 

right path, that I am not alone, that I am loved. 

I have that! 

Looking forward to each new day....to the rest of my life!

Graduation

My daughter graduated from the Art Institute of Phoenix with her bachelors! 

I am so very proud of her. I love the person she is, the person she has become.

I am proud of the hard work she has put into this degree. 

Happy mom dance!!!!
http://jensen-art.com/ 

2012 ~ 283

Orpheum Theatre The original Orpheum Theatre premiered on January 5, 1929, as a showcase for vaudeville, touring shows, and movies. Built by theater owners Harry Nace and J.E. Richards, the Orpheum was reputed to be the most luxurious movie palace west of the Mississippi. In 1998, the firm completed a 9-year, 4-phase project to implement restoration of the theatre to its original splendor, while upgrading the audience chamber and stage to meet current theatrical standards. 

Heading Home!

2012 ~ 284

I have the opportunity to de-skin my couch! I never loved this couch, but I love the fabric!

So now with the new couch in place and the color of the cover just perfect.... I can remove

the covering of the old one, then I will recover the cushions with it! 

I am loving the chance to redo my living room, making it more me! More Home!!

Stay tuned....!

2012 ~ 285

May I just preface this with....I AM SUCH A GIRL!
And I like it that way!

I know to watch my gauges, I check my fluids too!
At that point....everything is supposed to work right!
Right?
Two months ago I got new tires...
I plan on not having to work on that again for YEARS!
(I don't like that boy store)

Last Month I learned about break fluid, or shall I say...
what happens with the lack of it.

I have a little H2o issue in my car. I had hoped that if
I watched it and made sure the car was always
hydrated, all would be well. Not so true.

I now know a bit more........
like how the water runs through the
chambers in the engine. That cools the engine.
(How am I doing so far boys?)
And then the oil, that lubricates the engine,
runs through other chambers.
The two fluids never touch.
OR AT LEAST THEY ARE
 NOT SUPPOSED TO!

So when my temp gauge was getting warm
the other day I checked my H2o,
then while I was playing HeMan,
I checked my oil too.
Well, I know enough to know that
the oil is never supposed to be
such a creamy color!
And I made a call to my favorite mechanic!
I knew by the word that escaped his lips
that this was a bad thing.
Something about a seal, a head, a gasket.
All of these things are boy talk for ugly and bad.
But he came back with...
"Don't worry honey, we can fix it!"
He has changed my oil and oil filter, but some magic
car fairy dust somewhere, and he gave me boy homework.

So I do check my water levels and oil measurement on
the stick testing thingy every day until told other wise.
I report it to my guy and he says things like
"Great" and "That's Good".
I am not sure what to think about the
severity of the issue, but I know I  trust him with my
car and my life. And I love that he knows how to not
talk boy talk to me!!!

Thanks so very much  BW!



                                   

2012 ~ 286

Boy Talk.....

Boy One: I'm planning on being spontaneous.
Boy Two: I'm putting off procrastination.

Wickedly Wonderful Weather Nation Wide!

March 18th

Flagstaff AZ 2 feet of Snow

Phoenix AZ Sleet and Rain...Chilly!!!!

A Beautiful Day In My Favorite Slice Of Heaven

2012 ~287

Texting
J: And ....you are now hired as a shoe consultant. Go!
Me: I don't know, I am not a shoe shopper. Sad but true!
J: I will be firing you then!
_______________________________________________
Jessette and I went shoe shopping! She wants a new pair
for her graduation. She had already done some looking.
But it is my job as the mom to take to the place of terror..
We went to the mall! We did the power shop thing.

I am not a shoe shopper as a rule. But I would love to be.
My daughter is not a shoe shopper either. But within an
hour we had found just the right pair! At a very good price.

I loved spending time with her, I loved listening to her!
We found the shoes, we had giggles and fun!
We went to lunch.
I watched my baby girl as she told me about her world.
She delights me! I adore her!

I may not me a shoe shopper....but I love being the mom!

2012 ~ 288

My friend and his little girl set up
 a "Leprechaun Trap" each Saint Patrick's Day!
They do the set up the night before,
with something shiny inside
to entice and trap the Leprechaun.
When the little guy enters the trap
to greedily take the bate.....snap!!!!
He is trapped!
The only way for him to escape
is to leave a treasure!
Something green of course!
This year Miss Abby was left
a Green Feather Masquerade Mask!
I think that is a perfect Saint Patrick's Day gift!

2012 ~ 289

I needed something.
So I treated myself!!!

2012 ~ 290

They have had every opportunity to do well,
yet my kids still hadn't turned it their homework.

Mom should not be the only one panicking here!
The day before the quarter ends Cookie finally
 gets her homework turned in.
She got the packet before Christmas break....
it's MARCH!

Mark and I meet Mr.Lentz after school
for a "Come to Jesus Meeting"!
And I let both the High School Senior
and the High School Teacher know
that I was not at all pleased that it took me
standing in the class room for
the two of them to go through the note book and see what was still missing
and what grades had yet to be added in. (Stupid Males)

When all was said and done (about 6 pieces of make up work by Mark)
both kids had all their work in by the end of the grading period.
Proud parenting moment....No.
Am I pleased that they did get it all done and in? Yes!!!
       
  I will not be playing so nice for the next quarter!!!

2012 ~ 291

I vacuumed my room.

But I was just moving the large stuff 

from one place to another. 

So I took the thing apart. I cleaned it all out. 

I put it back together. I tried to vacuum again. 

No Suction. 

NO SUCTION.

NOOOOOOO SUCTION!!!

MY VACUUM SUCKS!

So I bought a new vacuum and carpet cleaner. 

I don't even want to admit at how filthy my

carpet was. 

Now my carpet is so clean!!! 

So glad my new vacuum sucks!!!

2012 ~ 292

Text Conversation

Jessette: Guess What?

Me: You love your Mommy!

J: Well duh. Guess what else!

M: IDK

J: I just passed my last class for my 

    bachelors degree!

PROUD PARENTING MOMENT

2012 ~ 293

6:15  Cookie texts "I don't feel good"

6:20  Cookie texts "I don't think I can get out of bed"

6:30  Mark texts "My whole body hurts, I am so not going to school"

6:35  Cookie texts "Not good.... throwing up"

6:40  I tell my boss "I'm heading home"

6:45  Clocking out and leaving work.

How is it that a 45 minute work day was not a reason to be happy! 

Words To Live By...