Well, I'm starting a new chapter in my life. I've taken a new job at Bryan Hospital in Lincoln, NE. God has hand on our lives as always. I applied for the job on line and was hired almost immediately. I'm looking forward to learning a lot  and meeting  new people. This is a full benefits job. I loved hospital work when I was a nurse. That was over 30 years ago. I'm up for the new challenge.   I'm SUPER excited!!! I'll start work on Monday.
          Eric and I are in year 7 of a 5 year plan to move to Lincoln to be near Chris' family and have a few of the amenities that a city will provide. Eric has never lived anywhere but Staplehurst so it's going to be a big transition. We've been looking at houses but we need to sell this one first. Eric painted the kitchen and hung pictures.  We've got a lot of projects going on the house and hope to put it on the market late summer or early fall.

I'll keep you all up to date on the progress. It may be a wild ride but the fun is in the journey!

The flowers were a "moving on " gift from Daniel, the pharmacist here in Seward.

Quilt in a day....well kind of!!

Miss Whit, my 13 year old granddaughter, wanted me to help her with a t-shirt quilt. She asked me about  this project, for Memorial Day Weekend, just after  the first of the year. Setting aside nearly 40 t-shirts she came prepared for the task.

I made plastic templates of various sizes , set up the cutting area and let her loose with the scissors.  With only a few snags she got all of her squares cut and sorted the way she liked them. We started the process of putting them together.

Now this part is for all of my quilter friends:

How many of us have said this? How many of them? How often?

I thought cutting them out was the hard part.

I thought I had WAY too many shirts.

My back is killing me.

The sewing machine hates me.

I should have been more careful cutting.

I hope the marks wash out.

HOW many more rows are there????

I dropped a pin. (On the carpet in MY bed room.)

I guess I'll find THAT in my bare feet.

I don't think I have enough patches.

Oh, there they are!!!! Under the ones I've all ready finished.

That's IT!!!!! I quit!!!! Hand me two more. I can do 2 more!!

I can't see anymore.

I jammed up the machine. I quit!!!

"Good night Grandma I love you. We'll start fresh in the morning."

Me and YOGA

Erin and I a couple of years ago.

For my birthday Erin gave me a "Yoga Kit". If you know me at all you know that do NOT do fitness.  I've been working with this yoga kit and DVDs. Erin sent me "Yoga for Over 50". So.....that was really difficult!!!! I bought "Yoga for Beginners". These both start with"You are going to breath.......". OK...I've been doing that for over 60 years!!!. "..and stretch.. I can do that. Now...begin by sitting on your mat...OH oh... this is getting complicated!!! It has just gone down hill from there.

I think I'll start by just BREATH, STRETCH, and watch the lady on TV.  If I get to that "downward dog" I'll let you know.








I can't seem to rotate my photos . Can anyone help??

It's my Birthday!!!

Happy 60th Birthday to Lynn  WOW that's getting up there!!!

This is the cake that Whitney made for me !!!!

Well , My friends... I've had a wonderful birthday!!! CKW&C were out for the weekend. I received many lovely gifts , cards and well wishes from all of you!!!  We had singing (Sir Paul McCartney sang happy birthday to me on my birthday) Whit did some dancing, Conner made breakfast of corn bread, Eric brought home beautiful steaks that Chris grilled fro all of us. We played dominoes  and pool, Then Whit baked my birthday cake!! See the photo. The perfect lay back and do next to nothing day! In a month we'll be able to spend time with the Davis Family and do it all again! I love Birthdays!!! Thank you everyone

Lynn's 60 th Birthday

Aboard the Amtrak  Coast Starlight Parlor Car. 

I learned all of the things I was supposed to learn.

Just taking the time to assess the meaning of life.

I learned all of the things I was supposed to learn. I've always known that Jesus is my salvation. Not much of a student, I learned what I needed for the time at hand. Skipping through elementary school with”She doesn't work to her potential”, plodding through a middle school of 3000 students “Lynn stays out of trouble”, to high school where I was planning my wedding my for most of my senior year graduating 132 out of 150. I loved collage. I was learning for ME and for my life! Graduated in the top 3%. Scored in the 98^th percentile in state LPN broads exam. Computers are fascinating. Learning everyday about whole world beyond my mid-western small town realm. I had no idea that in the new millennium, as a Certified Pharmacy Technician, I'd keep learning at a greater pace than ever before. Or that I'd be LOST without my computers(Yes, many computers. 1973 SHS graduate. Who knew we'd need lots of computers!!!).

Being a mom, teacher and nurse were my life's goals. The year 1981 BOOM!!! DONE!!! Little did I know how I'd treasure the GRAND mother, SUNDAY SCHOOL teacher, and the LIFETIME nurse roles that awaited me. Mothering , teaching and nursing in so many varied times places and situations. I'm amazed when I see the opportunities to continue in all of those goals.

I didn't have any idea of what kind of old person I wanted to be. I still don't. But I've thought of many options. A crazy long gray haired hippie with an organic garden and a few sheep. (seems like a lot of work) A crazy dog lady with 2 old dogs and a walker with a pocket for dog treats. A sweet crazy lady that bakes lots of goodies for everyone of the neighbor kids. (maybe that's creepy). Perhaps the smart funny gal that drives the great sports car and wears fur. (In my dreams). Maybe the mature woman that writes all of the books that have been spinning around in this CRAZY head of mine for years, makes a fortune and in her old age is famous . (spell check has given me great hope). I might like to be a world traveler. (I doubt that because I like to be home). I've had so many older friends that have formed my “Older Woman” pattern. A favorite quote from 101 year old Laura D. “I never thought about being an old lady and I've been one for a long time. But, I still remember CLEARLY being a little girl.” Isn't that wonderful!!!!!

Being a generally happy kid, I grew up seeing a very real world. I was a good little girl, very quiet (don't laugh . I was!!! ), little sister of 3 big brothers ,older sister (by over 12 years) of 1 little sister and well loved by my family. My childhood memories are sketchy at best and sad at worst. My Godly mother protected me and taught me to do the right thing. “Love your kids(she was the best)”. My dad taught me to work hard and take care of your family. (the ONE thing he did well). Brothers teach all of us not to take ourselves to seriously. And the little sister taught me to be a loving nurturing mom. My mother had a long difficult marriage to a mean, unfaithful man. She escaped with 2 girls one day at the end of that rope to start over. She started over with us in tow and was very successful.

I didn't expect to be happy as an adult ,but I am unreasonably happy. I met, feel in love, and got engaged to “My one TRUE Love” in the year 1972. In November 1973 I married into his idyllic “Ozzie and Harriet” family and could NOT believe that they were REALLY that happy. But he brought that happiness into our home. Now, for more than 40 years ,2 children, 4 grand children, one house, one and ½ dogs(Daisy was a granddog), and several jobs (including a shepherd. Not one of my goals but I loved it!) here I am HAPPY. I've loved and been loved in the must remarkable ways. My husband is my best friend, soul mate, the spiritual head of our home, advocate, voice of reason(no! to the 2 dogs),  parenting partner, house mate, building contractor (building shelves for all of those books), gardener, travel companion, prayer warrior and in all things my better half.

So, going back to what kind of old lady I want to be...... here I am. The crazy old lady with a 1000 books that are waiting to be read and never enough time because I love all of the REAL people in my life more that the books. (But,I'm keeping the books.)

I'll let you know how it all turns out.

Lynn

We absolutely love traveling Amtrak Sleeper first class!!! 

I learned all of the things I was supposed to learn.

On Friends

I don't do book clubs. I've never done a “Girls night”. Not since the 1970's have I had a “party” ei: Tupperware, 31, Sarah Coventry, Pampered Chef.

Saying that......I have wonderful friends! Just last week on my way to work I stopped and visited with a retired school teacher about her kids and mine. Visited a good long time to find out that as one of my children arrived on the west coast hers came back to set up a medical practice in Lincoln, NE. Stopped at the local thrift store and saw Karen F. just long enough for a wink and a nod. Both visits equally fulfilling. During my work day saw and spoke by phone to a dozen good friends. In the course of my day I stop at Assisted Living Homes and see and briefly speak to old friends there. Only to go home to connect with Facebook friends . Remember when we wrote letters to friends??? I wrote a few Christmas Thank Yous and MAILED them. What a great day FULL of friends!!!!

I'll look forward to next week full of friends at work, friends that are part of my family, family that are absolutely the very best friends.

1982

I've got a family tree

A seedling starts , grows straight and thin.

Small branches two so young and tender.

Leaves so green and full of promise.

Yearly cycle. Leaves fade and fall.

New stronger growth more foliage green.

Cycles, pruning, growth, renewal

New branches on the the two now strong.

Fresh new branches full of promise.

The trunk grows bolder every year.

Endures conditions harsh and kind.

It's roots are hidden, vital , strong.

Every year brings more lush growth.

Each season has it's own true beauty.

God's grace provides it all.

Lmr

My amazing daughter Erin sent me this mothers pin. The stones are the birth stones of all ten of us, It is a custom, hand made ,artisan piece. ( photo does not do it justice). I will treasure it always!