Baby, it's cold outside!

I feel sorry for the poor window washer, Matt, as he dangles from my balcony trying to get at my sliding glass doors. Maybe he is not cold as he's working so hard, but having the doors opened makes for a bit of a chill for this hot house flower that is Kim!

Oh, it looks so nice and sparkling now that he's done with the windows! Now, watch, it'll rain and get them all spotty again. Having them done professionally is the absolute ONLY way to go, as there is no way Justin nor I would attempt to climb around on this 3rd floor and wash the big doors from the outside. I did tell Matt that if he fell, he should holler for me because I couldn't stand to watch him work out there! Thanks for your help, Lady! At my suggestion, he used my broom handle to extend his washing tools which was better than having him stand on the railing.......

My sister-in-law, Nancy, showed me how to find misspellings by using the "dashboard" so now I may have a reduced number of errors in my postings. The problem seems to be that I write like I speak, a mile a minute with gusts up to 250 so that opens the doors for mistakes. At least in print, you can take it back.....not so easily with the spoken word. Nancy does website work for her living so knows her way around the World Wide Web.

It's been a busy "Day" in this household so far today---besides the window washer (Perfect Vision for those in Orange Park that need this service), telephone calls, special friends coming over to share some time and counsel, and then communications on the computer. And now it's already time for Rush to start. My little space heater is cookin' away, trying to warm my feet and legs after having the doors open, chilling the air. Using the area heater is far superior to heating the entire house, just the room that I'm in needs to be steamy hot......

While Matt was washing the windows, I washed a bunch of my colored glass items, as they still have residual remodeling dust on them from when my bathroom/bedroom were redone. Now they will sparkle like my freshly cleaned windows! Justin can hang them back up when he comes over the next time. or I can climb up to put them in place myself....we'll see how patient I am or how ambitious. Matt said he'd not seen so much pretty glass in the windows before, except at church! Cute!

No wonder I'm chilly---it's only 54 degrees above zero out there! It would be a safe bet that it's warmer here than it will be on Sunday night for the Packer game. I am going to display my new Packer flag which the Hilchey's gave me, probably hang it on the outside porch railing in the courtyard. I will do that again for the Super Bowl Party even if the Packers don't make it to the Super Bowl (God forbid!) But, a party is a party no matter who's playing.

Oh, last night I had a wonderful time with Cindy R., who asked me to attend a Southern Living party with her in St. Johns County Golf and Country Club. Carol, a cropping friend, was Hostess for the party. When Judy J. heard I was going there she said, "That's like taking an alcoholic to a bar!". Oh yeah, she was correct.....I bought some lovely ceramic pieces that match some I purchased at a Southern Living party last year, plus some colored glass lanterns to hang in my studio by the doors. Even booked a party from her so I can earn some more plus, yes, have yet another little party at my house! The demonstrator also offers her decorating expertise if asked, and to that I ask, "Why not?". My movie outing fell apart as Judy found out she was getting company and Martie was too pooped after her class, so Cindy's call came at just the right time. And what a blast it was!

Lori, I had such a goofy dream this a.m. just before I was due to awaken. As dreams go, I ran into my dentist outside his office (in "real" life my dentist is female) and told him about my emergency root canal I'd just had done. The dental assistant escorted us into the office, put me in the chair while you looked on, and I felt her tape something to my cheek. Thinking she was going to take an x-ray for their own use, I was compliant. All of a sudden I was totally woozy and sort of curled up on the chair, with my head on the foot, whimpering that I didn't feel well and whoops!--I threw up on the assistant! She was not pleased with that, and put an emesis dish tightly against my chin in case it happened again. The dentist came in to see what was going on and he asked why they had tried to put me under, that I was just getting an x-ray taken. We couldn't get out of there fast enough. Now, what does that all mean? Don't eat hull-less popcorn before going to the dentist!!!

One of my duties for the church is serving as Secretary of the Ladies' Group and have some minutes to type up for that, plus some other Outreach materials waiting to be worked on, so, for now, a fond adieu.

So far, so good today

Well, the big day is here---Timmy's anniversary. I've received several cards, e-cards, phone calls plus personal greetings so far today and enjoyed a lovely lunch with the Monday Bible study group. In the arms of my church family, a great place to be today and always!

Had a nice, long chat with Linda last night which was good for my soul, she is so good for my soul and my heart! We can laugh about the dumbest things. She has plans to go on a cruise in late March but that won't work with my trip to MN at the begining of April. Everything has to happen at once sometimes. I'll try to get some time later in the month to do some scrapbooking with her when I'm in Manty.

When I stopped by the cemetery today after lunch, I saw the guys closing up a grave over in the "babyland" section, which always saddens me, but moreso today. Someone else is going to feel sorrow like mine for the rest of their lives, but the good news is that the sorrow softens a bit as time goes on. We got told that often early on when Timmy died and I personally have found that to be true. What is also true is that memories fade a bit, something which no one could have ever convinced me would happen. What a learning and growing experience this has all been, going to the School of Hard Knocks, sort of. Okay, then, does that mean I've graduated or is there more "homework" required before I can be considered "honed by the fire"? Wait, wait, wait, don't answer that! I learned a valuable lesson back in 2003---don't ask questions you don't want the answer to!!!! So, no one needs to feel they should answer that question, okay?

I am also getting quite excited about the pending visit from the Prange family, coming into town next week. As Timmy would say, "I so 'cited!" Their schedule is already packed but they've invited me to share in much of it with them. Maybe I can work ahead on the newsletter and such but can't do much about the meetings and other committments that happen in the evenings. It will be cool to see what a little man Lucas has become and meet Grace for the first time. Last year she was still in utero for Brent's wedding and we didn't go up north for CHRISTmas this year, so missed meeting Baby Grace in person. I have a new nephew born last fall that I haven't met in person yet, either. I'd better get on the ball!

That Joanne! She is tooo much! She just called me from Jax Beach to tell me about this fantastic store that screamed "Kim Lahaie Day!!!" when she walked into it. She saw the most lovely dishware, some which looked like the Amalfi Coast or Greek Islands that would be perfect for me. Oh, she was so excited about her find! Jo picked up a stack of brochures to bring back for me but I'll have to wait to get them, as she's heading to Orlando for a Buffini meeting for a couple days...nuts! Nothing to stop me from taking a ride to Jax Beach myself for a first-hand look, right? Don't answer that, and besides, I am off of dish restriction for two years already. Maybe Justin would like to go with me, or would he get me into even more trouble??!!??

The sky is a lovely blue today, not so overcast as it was yesterday. We got buckets of rain during Bible study but it had cleared up by the time church got out. My car needed a washing anyway! Owen has offered to wash my car and put a nice finish coat on it for me. What a sweetheart he is.....and I knew that before he offered to wash my car! Olivia drives my big red car now and I love being able to get a ride in it every so often. Anyway, there is a white bird bobbing about on the river, certainly Joanne knows its name but I just recognize it as a white floating bird. I wonder if water fowl ever get sea sickness.........

Later today I might be going to the movies to see The Bucket List with some church ladies and perhaps my heart, Martie. We have to see how she feels after her art class gets out. On Wednesday, the 30th, I am going to the opera, Tosca, but no one else from church wants to go. I've approached Christine to see if she'd like to go, I don't spend nearly enough time with her, since she works not far from her home, not venturing into Jacksonville as much as she used to. She really needs to get out more!!!!!

This Thursday I am having lunch with Janet and her MI friend, Karen, at The Club and then coming over here to enjoy the view and spend some time together. They are going to help keep me busy so that I don't "dwell" too much, and there is no one like Janet who can keep me busy! She is a such a joy, a treasure in my life!

You have all probably gotten the e-mail thingy that circulates every so often about how people come into our lives for a Reason, A Season, or A Lifetime. I never want to let go of people, which sometimes adds to my heartache because I CAN'T or WON'T let go, but simply have to believe that people come into my life, personally, at exactly the right time, either for me, or for them! I love the power of the Lord, His mighty, guiding hands!

Speaking of hands, mine are getting cold, so will close this chapter for now. I don't know what to tell you about the "comments" problem, not sure just what has to be done to leave a comment. Linda's came through just fine last night. I'll have to ask her to walk me through it so those of you who have tried can give it a shot. Thanks for trying, though!

...serve the Lord with gladness!

Let me try this again.....

"I'm going to keep trying all these different font types to see which ones I prefer. Boy, this blog thing is a real hoot! I nearly missed going to dinner tonight because time got away from me. I have some "real" work to do so I shouldn't write too much tonight, but just wanted to let folks know that you can write back to me by clicking "comments" at the bottom of this blog, and then we can volley words back and forth with each each. Dolly, isn't this going to be fun?

In April, some plans are being made for a "Kim Tour" to the Frozen Tundra---oh, I know, I know, it won't be frozen any longer, or at least, it had better not be. My elevator is due to be replaced sometime in April so it's a great time for me to go north. I don't care who you are, 20 days is a long time to be hauling my soda cases up the stairs, to say nothing of the doggie bags and to-go boxes! While I hate to miss some of that lovely month in Florida, I'll be heading to MN to attend The Jersey Boys show with Lori and some of her friends, plus finding some time to visit with Judy in Winona, and other fun spots and such in MN and WI. Might even go see the Habeck's again, who live near Lori. Judy is my heart and it's going to be great to spend some face time together, rather than using written form to communicate all the time. Lori has great places to go shopping and such, plus David's band sometimes practices there so much to look forward to in Holmen and Winona.

Probably after that I'll head down to see Bryson, my newest great-nephew, and his family near Madison, and then head up "home" to Manty. Besides my blood family there, I'll also find some time for Linda, my other heart, and Dolly over in 'Trivers. If time allows, a trip down to Morton Grove and area might be in order, as the only museum I've ever visited was to see King Tut in December 2006 at the Field Museum. Didn't see much more of the museum than that display. That will certainly take much of the month, but am not sure if I'll be staying until Manny's 3rd birthday or not. My whirlwind tour starts the first weekend already and with a newsletter due by the end of the month.......I just don't know if I can stay for the birthday celebration. Boo hoo!
Isn't he just the most adorable little feller?? Oh, I am getting hungry so must go re-heat something from the fridge selection of boxes. Besides, I have some work to do around here before going to bed, so good night all, and have a blessed day tomorrow. Thanks to all for the lovely cards and phone calls. They mean the world to me, believe me!!!

....serve the Lord with gladness!

Welcome to my world!!!

Welcome to my first blog! Thanks to Justin, who helped me find a template, I can write to many people at one time and perhaps avoid repeating myself or missing someone with news or information! Also, I love a captive audience!

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This photo of me was taken while standing on the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, Italy, when Justin and I visited there in 2006. The garish jewelry, my passion, was made for me by Lisa, my niece. It's a pleasure to wear the jewelry made by my family and friends. Today I am wearing the necklace and earrings made by Lori, my sister---red with gold and black swirls, sort of blown-glass looking. Looks wonderful with the lovely ruby red blouse which Mom gave me for CHRISTmas.

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I'm still wearing my church clothes as this evening Justin and I are joining the Hilchey family for dinner at The Capital Grille at the Town Center Mall. We managed to get the first available opening they had for today.

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This is going to be funky week for me (and perhaps my readers as well) as tomorrow marks the 7th anniversary of Timmy's death. I could call it something else but choose to refer to it exactly what it is--death. He left earth, having completed his life's work in the Lord, and now circles the Throne of the Most High singing "Holy, holy, holy" with the saints and angels. Hard to get upset about that, isn't it? What glory he now experiences, while we are left here to carry on the work, to help extend the Kingdom, sharing the Good News of salvation with those who haven't heard yet!

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Timmy's story has a happy ending, and I pray that everyone that reads this blog will have the same happy ending on their last day! Later!