Monday Musings

The contest at the gym will be over in one more week! I think I'm doing about as well as anyone else, so will let you know if DC and I are heading to Mexico on a cruise. It doesn't seem possible that this small amount of weight loss is in the running, but maybe it's as hard for everyone else to lose as it is for me.

This is going to be one of those meandering types of posts - in fact Monday seems to be that way every week lately. I'd call it Monday Meanderings, except that Barb already has dibs on Sunday Meanderings. So I'll call it Musings --

So I think I have finished the "I Used To . . . " series - it was so much fun. I did it to remind myself that I used to be a very productive person! Susie, dear Susie, was so sweet when she asked me if there was anything I couldn't do. Oh, my - I think that should be my next series - things I CAN'T do, or don't want to do, or am afraid to do. That should be a good long series! To clarify one thing regarding the most recent one - I did not write any of the plays or musicals - I just picked them out, ordered them, did the casting, and directed them. Lots of work, lots of fun!

Thinking of all of those musicals was so much fun - and seems to have brought a lot of good memories to many of my readers as well. I'm glad for that. As you may have figured out over the past 2+ years of blogging, music is a huge part of my life (but only music that I like!). As I've told before, I started piano lessons at age 7 and began playing for this tiny little church at age 8. So many of the good old songs hold a lot of memories. Today, for instance - it was my week to play the organ (after 20+ years of being the only organist, now we have 3 and we take turns). We're a small church compared to the mega ones that many of you attend. We've been there for more than the 35 years of our marriage. Someday I'll write more about that subject. But today several songs took me back.

The first one was "Praise Him, Praise Him, Jesus Our Blessed Redeemer . . . " This is a rather fast song, and I'll never forget the first time I played the introduction - I was a young teen and was playing for Sunday night service. My fingers got so mixed up that the intro was a mess - so embarrassing!

Then there was "All That Thrills My Soul is Jesus." I can remember singing this song during college chapel - the rather sacriligious joke on campus was "Do you know how you can tell a hypocrite? It's someone singing 'All That Thrills My Soul is Jesus' while holding hands with his girlfriend." Now - I don't mean to offend anyone, either with the joke or with the gender picked on, but I remember it from so many years ago!

Speaking of music - the girlies and I were driving down the street with the Bible school cd playing - and me singing along. I don't know why all of a sudden, after all the many times we've done the same thing, Feisty pipes up, "Grandma, quit singing! You're not a kid!"

A few weeks ago, after retiring from my paying job, I also retired from the mission president position I've held at our church for close to 30 years. I was so pleasantly surprised when I was given a lovely award, called the Distinguished Service Award, a nice reception after church, and a gift - a one-hour, in my home massage - a deep, therapeutic massage by one of my newer friends at church. We were finally able to connect this week - it was wonderful! But was I ever sore the next day. She really found all of my "spots." I could use one of those about every week!

Someone asked me if I was ready for all the excitement around here this coming week. The answer is - I'll be staying as far away from Denver as possible when the Dems come to town for their convention - and I won't be watching the intense coverage on the networks - you can take from that whatever you wish! I do have to say, though, that I'm really proud of the churches in Denver that are coming together to feed 7500 "first responders" 3 meals every day, plus snacks. In case you don't know what that means (I didn't), this is how many police and firefighters will be on hand for emergencies. That's alot of food! What a ministry. I will never understand, though, the mentality of people who run around the country protesting. They have a huge jail cell ready for those who get out of hand. Pathetic!

My dear friend, Nancygrace, gave me this sweet award today - thank you, Nancy! I would love to pass it on to all of you wonderful friends, who have so enriched my life.

Remember last winter when I locked the keys in my car - with the car running - at 7:00 in the morning on campus? I had to call dear DC, who hadn't left for work yet. He trooped up 15 miles, gave me a key, and went on another 10 miles to work. That evening, before he came home from work, he stopped by his favorite store, Ace H*rdware, and picked me up one of these:

It lives underneath my car now and I don't even want to think of how many times I have used this gift - and I sure don't want him to know! I am so pathetic - I get distracted looking for something, or listening to the end of a song, or reading something that I forget to take out the keys. It is definitely the gift that keeps on giving!

My favorite time of the year is approaching - in fact, there's a hint of autumn in the air in the mornings. There is plenty of warm weather to come, I'm sure, since Indian Summer is common around here. But there is that different feeling that I just love. The flowers are enjoying it as well. Just come for a little walk around my yard with me --

Two colors of mums - does anyone recognize the little white ones?

Pink zinnias

Varieties of zinnias and impatiens

Marigolds

See the tomato peeking through the leaves? We're going to have BLTs some night this week.

And hopefully a few carrots someday, planted by the girlies.

And my very favorites - hibiscus

Have a wonderful week!