Four O'clock Angel

So far, spring and summer have been busy.  Grandkids, dogs, writing, oh the list goes on and on. How in the world did I manage life before retirement? 

Hey, I published a new book this week. So that was fun.  

 

                                                     Check out my newest memoir here

Trust God

 

Time

 Retirement is exhausting!  Ok.  It's my fault I am so busy, but still.  Today and tomorrow are planned yard sales.  Morning #1 is finished, now there is tomorrow.  I only do yard sales for three hours in the morning.  It's all I can handle.  Ugh.

First, though, we took Bubbles to an early morning exercise at the tennis courts.  EIGHT O'CLOCK IS TOO EARLY FOR SUCH NONSENSE!  And can you believe, there were actual people playing tennis on one of the courts?  Seriously?  

We went to the top court and Bubbles got her exercise before the rains came.  When the rain started - we were out of there.  Besides, I had to get home before nine since my yard sale was scheduled to start at nine.  The rain stopped shortly after we got home.  I managed to jump in the shower, throw on some makeup, and dry and style my hair before opening the garage door and pulling out all my stuff for the yard sale.  What a busy morning!  Oh, and did I mention Bubbles got sick and threw up 2X so I had to clean that up.  Too much excitement too early in the morning?  Possibly.  She's been resting since I closed up shop at noon.

*sigh*

It's hot. Husband almost has the pool opened. The water temps will not be comfortable for a week or so yet though.

Monday is Memorial Day.  Already though?  Boy, time flies.  I better get to the cemetery and put new flowers on Mom and Dad's graves.

Mom, Dad, and me.  Memorial Day 2023

Humility

I have been especially intrigued for the past several years by the changes in all things.  Truly, there is something mysterious happening.  It began in the year 2020, and most will agree that is when the bottom fell out of the comfortable life we once lived.  As a prelude to that year, I had a dream that I later looked back on (yes, I keep a dream journal), and concluded that God was certainly giving me a sneak peek into future events.  

So here we are in 2024 and I'll be honest - I see the world as a messed-up place.  I won't make this political.  There are too many disrespectful fanatics quick to either judge others or post their opinions and thoughts despite who it may hurt.  I'm seeing it all around me.  Families that split up and never speak to one another again because of their desire to be 'right' or 'heard' or 'seen'...  God help us.  

There's little humility.  Almost zero tolerance if one believes differently than another.  It's a sad world we live in.  I think you know what I'm talking about.

With the above being said, I can report that speaking for myself, I am in a good place.  Of course, there's a lot I would change if I could.  About people, places, and things.  But so much is out of my control. It's not good to attempt to hijack a situation and force that situation to be your will.  God's will prevails in the end, and God's will is in our best interest.  

So, stay humble. Replace self-satisfaction with the satisfaction of being able to help another.  And if you fail at life - regroup - and this time do it right.  

God's way is always in our best interest.  

I'm sad for the ugliness of the world.  But, I am grateful for a God who has not given up on us.    

OLD ~ RETIRED ~ AND BUSY

 It has been a while.  Well, life has been busy.  I used to hear two sides to the story of retirement.  One was boredom.  The other was being so much busier than before retirement.  I will stand on the latter.  

There are kids and grandkids, all who have grown into extracurricular activities and so on...  so, yeah.  There's that.

Also, I've become a digital creator on TikTok which, surprisingly has grown into an extra income for me.  Being retired and with a fixed income - it's welcoming to see supplemental dollars being added to my bank account for doing something I love to do (creating videos). I honestly had no clue you could earn money from posting online.  My topic is, you guessed it, my dogs.  

Old age has set in and at 69, if I wake in the morning without something hurting - then for a moment I may think - am I dead?  Ha!

I need to get back into blogging, because oh, how I miss this.  Connecting with my blogger friends and seeing what you all have been up to.  I'm hoping life slows soon, and I can come here more frequently.  Because I love blogging.

Now I need to go check in on some of you to see what you've been up to.  God bless, and I hope your doing well.

MISS BUBBLES

No Rain, Please and Thank You

 A year and a half after bringing our bubbly bundle of joy home with us, I can report that her favorite pastime is TENNIS COURT PLAY.  Sadly though, the weather has not permitted this fun for almost a week now. 

Yesterday we tried!  After lunch, I harnessed her up and we ran to the car and headed to the courts.  If we could get five minutes in of our usual half hour there, it would possibly help her see there is light at the end of the tunnel.

She pulled me up over the hill, crying - yipping- lunging, and eager to get in there and start chasing balls.  She was out of control, to put it mildly.  

Hurry.  

Shut the gate.

Throw the ball.  

Run, Bubbles, Run!!!!  

And then, the heavens opened and began pelting us first with rain - then sleet - and then the winds came.  I leashed her up and we hurried to the car for cover.  

*Sigh*  

Rain, Rain, Go Away

The Yellow Raincoat

Rain was in the forecast—and a lot of it! So, I did what any other good dog mom would do: I scoured Amazon to find a raincoat for Bubbles. Yes, she wore it (reluctantly), and yes, it kept her dry.  

A win for this dog mom, even though the cockapoo was a bit humiliated.

 

This Hoarding Situation

 One of these days my computer is going to say, "Stop!  I can't take it anymore!"

I'm talking about how I load it up with photos and videos and emails and folders and...  well, you get the picture.  I complain about my husband being a hoarder of things, but here I am being a MAC stuff hoarder.  

Some fun facts about me:  

*I very seldom delete a picture or a video. 

*I'm afraid to delete a Word document even if I have seven thousand copies of the same document

*I will save pictures multiple times in different folders

*I do not delete emails.  I let them build and build and build till my account could burst!! (ya never know what you might have to go back and find one day)

*Oh, and I have multiple email accounts.  Maybe, eh, seven or so.  I'm a mess. But, I am blessed.  Bubble blessed.

WE ARE BACK!!

 I've been neglecting my blog lately.  Not on purpose, but it seems being retired leads to a much busier life than working.  

Okay, enough about me.  What about my new dog?

Bubbles will turn two years old in July.  That is hard to even say.  Two years old!!  Wow!  It seems as though we just brought her home.  

She has had some health issues, but I am hoping most of the more serious times are behind us for a while.  It's nice having a dog in the house again.  When you become a senior citizen and your kids and grandkids are growing into their own little lives, spoiling the dog is a great way to enjoy your days.

I keep saying I would love to get back into blogging - and I mean to - however, time just seems to slip away.  I'm doing a few things now that are time-consuming.  Ensuring my dog gets attention, care and exercise.  Ensuring my husband gets time, care, and ... well... he takes care of his own exercise. LOL!  Church, worship services, and Bible studies.  Writing another book.  Helping a friend who I met on TikTok to write her life story. Making TikTok videos and making actual money doing it!!  Yes, I kid you not, I am getting paid to do what I love to do.  I guess I am a content creator!!  Yay, me!  

So yea.  I'm busier than ever, and life is winding down.  I will turn sixty-nine this April.  My mom was sixty-nine when she passed away.  My dad was fifty-three when he left this world.  How much longer can I have?  

But here I am - making the best of God's time and enjoying and loving the blessings He has bestowed upon me.  I am truly grateful and absolutely unworthy.  But that's my God!

Remembering Dad on Veterans Day

Pulling Dad's letters from an old tin,  I feel his loneliness as I read his letters home. ( Jo was my mom)

Jan. 18, 1946

Friday

Dear Mom and Dad,

"Just a few lines to let you know I am well..."  

"I have been transferred again, this time on a ship..." 

"Have you seen Jo lately?"

July 15, 1948

"I got paid yesterday.  Boy, I sure did need it.  I got forty-four dollars....."

Tokyo:  Sept. 30

Dear Mom and Dad,

"Just a few lines to let you know I am well and hope you all are the same.."

"How's the garden getting along this year?"

"I got a letter from Jo the other day...."

"Don't forget to send me some pictures..."

Monday, Aug. 13

"We sure have been having good news lately about the war.  It looks to me like it's almost over..."

"I haven't gotten any mail from you in about a month. I guess I'll get it all at once..."

"I don't want to miss this chance to get home for Christmas..."

"Have you seen Jo lately? I wrote to her tonight. Tell her to answer and let me know if she gets it..." 

"Well this makes almost 2 1/2 years I have been in the Navy.  It don't seem that long. I am getting to like it better than I did before. I get to see a lot of places and things.."

Dad, the sailor on the left.

Love, Bob EM 3R

Dad died when he was just 53 years of age, leaving me with many memories and a heartfelt gratitude to God for an earthly father who was quiet, loving, generous, compassionate, hard-working, and honest.

Two of my brothers served in the military as well, Jimmy, Marines, and Larry, Navy.     

God bless those who serve... who give of themselves...  to keep our country a safer place.  

  

It's Fall Y'all

One of the very few times I have went anywhere and taken very few photos - but this year I just savored the perfect day God provided to enjoy His beauty at the Springs Fall Festival in Springs Pa. The trails, the crafts, the food, the music, the smells (especially that kettle of apple butter throwing off the aroma of autumn through the air), the the beauty of summer turning to fall --- a perfect day created by God that I enjoyed immensely! I love these beautiful fall days. I miss Gracie on these days though, because she loved this time of year.