At the game

Both of my grandchildren are very athletic, and we love going to watch their games.  In summer it's soccer for both of them, and in winter it's basketball.  My grandson plays in the league that includes his school and several other private schools andthe teams are 3rd and 4th graders.  He's in the 4th grade, but he's the shortest kid on the team, but that doesn't stop him.  He's very fast and very sly and does well.  At this age, they have a limit of 6 baskets per player and then they have to sit out the rest of the game.  He has scored out several times.  Last night was the final tournament game and we had fun watching him.

The other team came with 10 players so they were always able to put in 5 rested players; my grandson's team just came with 7 players, and they all got plenty of playing time.  Unfortunately, the other team won -- 12 to 10. 

Last week we watched my granddaughter's game; she's in the 5th grade, and is in a YMCA league, all 5th and 6th graders.  Her team lost last week, probably because the other team had 4 very tall 6th grade girls who were always able to steal the ball and make baskets.  But they still have fun.

Tomorrow a friend is celebrating her 100th birthday; there will be a special luncheon for her after the church service.  Her mind is still very alert, but her eyes are no longer very good.  I can hardly imagine all the changes she has seen in her 100 years. 

I'm planning to live another 20 years which would bring me up to 100, but of course -- I'm not the one that's in control!

This makes 7

Six of my friends have passed away since the middle of November, and this past Sunday we got word that my first husband died suddenly of a heart attack Saturday night.  He is #7, and I always heard that deaths just come in 3's. 

People who have never been divorced do not understand that a divorce decree does not cut off the emotions one or both of those married people had for each other.  In the case of my first marriage, I assumed we would be married for life, that we would be soul mates forever, but it was not to be.  But in spite of everything that happened, I still cared for him -- after all, he was the father of my child.  The last time I saw him was in April of 2003 when he came to Denver for our daughter's wedding; there really wasn't much time to talk, but we could very easily have had a very nice conversation, even though I really wanted to remind him of how much he hurt my daughter and myself.  All this time I had still been praying for him that he would return to faith in God, but I don't know that it ever happened.  Part of me was also hoping that at some time he would apologize for all he had done -- because he never once said he was sorry.  My daughter had the same feelings.  All her life she's been hoping that he would be the father she wanted -- and it never happened.  When she first heard that he died, she grieved, but soon that feeling was replaced by a feeling of freedom.  Now she no longer has to hope that he will be what she needs and be disappointed.  I also have that feeling of being free -- I no longer have to hope to hear him admit to his wrongdoings and say he's sorry..... 

"Vengeance is mine, says the Lord...."

Freedom of Speech

I'm very thankful that I live in a country where I can enjoy Freedom of Speech -- because today I'm going to give my opinions about something that is going on in our country.  That "something" is the presidential campaign.  The big story on the news last night was that Sara Palin has endorsed Donald Trump....Big Whoopee!!!!  I can't think of a less deserving person to endorse a less deserving candidate for president.  Don't people realize that a presidential campaign is a series of job interviews for the most important job in the world?  Why on earth would Republicans think that a muli-billionaire who has repeatedly declared bankruptcy (he says not, but it's indisputable - there is proof - just read the Jan. 17 issue of the New York Times), has no tact, is campaigning by calling everybody else terrible names, telling lies in such a way that his supporters believe them and in general being a total crude candidate, could be the leader of the free world.  It's a job that requires tact (he has none) and statesmanship (none of that either).  And now Sara Palin, who John McCain unleased on us in 2008 is joining the fight, no doubt hoping he'll choose her for his V.P.  Ms. Palin's ego is only matched by Mr. Trump's ego.....  She is the one that went to 5 colleges in 5 years to get a Bachelor's degree in journalism -- she is also the one who quit being governor of Alaska after less then 2 years on the job.  She is very good with the 'one-liners' and would probably be a good comedian, but other than that -- I'd rather not hear another word out of her mouth.  In 2008 someone actually told me she was more qualified to be president that Barack Obama.  To remind you - Mr. Obama was a professor of constitutional law at the University of Chicago, was voted into the Senate, knew how to think before he spoke and certainly had the bearing of a statesman.  Ms. Palin was a housewife let out of her cage onto an unsuspecting world; evidently not too bright if it took her 5 years to get a degree in journalism, of all things, which does not equip someone to be elected to high office.

These are my opinions and I'm entitled to them......  I am not a Democrat, but am registered as Unaffiliated, but this year all the options are very discouraging.  So far I haven't found any candidate that I could vote for.  All I am doing at this point if praying that somehow, God will bring something good out of this mess.

New Year's Eve

It's cold this morning, right now it's 11 degrees.  I just made several trips outside to the storage shed to bring in the boxes for the Christmas things, because today is clean-up day.  I almost didn't put up a Christmas tree because it is a lot of work for these 80-year-olds, but I'm glad I did because we really enjoyed it, and we had people over several times to help celebrate the season.  But now -- time to clean up!

This cold weather reminds me of growing up in South Dakota, walking to our country school in very cold weather, doing chores no matter what the weather was.  And then I lived in Winnipeg, Canada for 3 years and it was very, very cold there.  I didn't have a car, so I would take a bus to work -- first wait for the bus at the stop about a block from my house, then transfer buses on the corner of Portage and Main -- a 15 minute wait on the coldest corner in the city!  In a way winter in Winnipeg was like winter here -- the sun was usually shining in a cloudless sky so it would look beautiful outside, but it was really cold.  From there I moved to Madison, Wisconsin where we got lots of snow and cold weather.  And next I moved to Cleveland, Ohio where it was always gray and cloudy in winter.  I did not like Cleveland - either in winter or summer. 

But the thing is, when you live in these climates you adjust, you dress accordingly and you don't stop your life just because it's cold.  In Winnipeg little children would be playing outside every day, no matter how cold.  They would be totally bundled up so you'd just see their eyes and little nose, but they were having fun.  The older kids would be playing hockey in the streets, and even adults would be out with the curling brooms having on the ice and snow.  Tobogganing was popular.  It was a healthy way to live.

This weekend we will be getting warm temperatures again, the snow will melt and we'll be outside without coats.  That's how Colorado is.

2015 has been a good year for me.  I started January 1 with a resolution to lose weight, and to date I have lost 38 lbs and it wasn't even hard.  I still want to lose more because it feels so good to not carry excess weight around.  So my resolution for 2016 will be to continue with the weight loss, and also see about being able to walk better.  My arthritis has made it hard to do much walking, so I may have to see about consulting with a physical therapist or someone who knows what I should do.  Of course he'll just tell me to do exercises........

The day after the storm

About 8 inches of snow yesterday -- that's the verdict for where we live.  The sun is out this morning, but it will have to get busy to melt all of this white stuff this time!  I grew up in South Dakota where this would have been a typical winter day; I also lived in Winnipeg, Canada for three years where the winters were very cold......however, I much prefer Colorado winters where the cold and snow never last for very long.  So today it's a good day to stay inside!

It's snowing sideways

That's what they say here in Colorado when it snows and there's a strong wind.  Where I come from we called it a blizzard or a snowstorm.  It's been "snowing sideways" since about midnight, and most schools are closed today which I'm sure makes many children very happy. 

My friends and I had planned to drive to Longmont and Loveland today for some shopping in some new stores, but it's been postponed till next week some time.  I am perfectly content to stay inside all day.

This is what it looks like outside our house:

 

But the nice thing about Colorado is that tomorrow the sun will shine all day and most of this snow will melt away.  Solar power is great!

 

But my husband isn't at home -- he had an appointment to have his truck worked on today, so when I looked outside, I saw the tracks heading out the driveway.  With 4-wheel drive, it's not a problem.

 

Tonight is the next Republican debate......it's like watching a train wreck - I can't take my eyes off it!

A certain candidate is already boasting that he will be the winner - not only of this debate but also of the presidential election.  I think he is the definition of an egomaniac...he is a master of nastiness.  All I can say is "Lord have mercy!"

Two weeks till Christmas

I've been too busy to post anything the last few days, but it's been a very good busy-ness.  I am so very grateful that at the age of 80 I'm still able to be active and enjoy my family, friends and many activities.  Yesterday I went to church in the morning for the Bible study group, we are doing the Beth Moore study on I and II Thessalonions, and it is very good.  Then at noon, all the seniors started arriving for our Senior Faith and Fun Club Christmas party.  We first had a delicious catered meal, after which there were some presentations.  I was given a gift of a beautiful scarf because I've been publishing the newsletter for the club for seven years now.  After a short devotional, it was time for the white elephant gift exchange - this was done with a lot of laughter, especially when one of the ladies unwrapped her gift and it was a roll of toilet paper!  She was a really good sport about it and had fun with it -- and a few minutes later found out that there was a $20 bill wrapped up in it!  Then we all wished we had chosen that gift, but none of us wanted to steal it from her -- I guess we were all just too nice!

Monday was another good day.  I teach a Bible study group the first Monday of each month; I started this group in June of 2001 and we've been meeting together ever since and have really bonded as sisters in Christ.  This Monday we had a Christmas brunch and also a gift exchange and a time of singing carols and sharing memories.  It was a really good time together.

And then Wednesday was my Christian Women's Connection luncheon -- again we had great food and a wonderful speaker.  We used to have these luncheons every month, but the last few years we have had to change to every other month, simply because so many women went back to work or left for other reasons.  In October we had our annual "Country Fair" as a fundraiser for missions; we raised over $2,500! 

Oh yes, I must not forget about this past Sunday.  Our church has quite a large Deaf ministry; on Saturday they had their annual Christmas party but I wasn't able to attend because I had two other parties to go to, so I went to their Sunday School and their worship service on Sunday.  They have interpreters who speak the words out loud for those of us who are not deaf.  The speaker was a visiting Deaf evangelist who was born in Nigeria and raised as a Muslim.  He was very interesting.  He became a Christian after someone kept on telling him about Jesus and what really impressed him was that Jesus had risen from the dead, while the prophets of other religions stayed dead.  This group also presented me with a gift because I have been helping them for seven years.  I don't know American Sign Language, but I wish I did so I could communicate better with them.  We do have conversation with paper and pen.  If I thought I could do two things at the same time, I'd try to learn sign language, but I don't think that's possible....

Today I was at home all day doing laundry and making Christmas cards.  We are scheduled to get some snow tonight which is ok, because the last few days have all been very warm.  I was able to go to all my activities without a coat in the middle of December.  I would very much like to have some snow for Christmas, as long as the roads aren't too slippery so I can't do the things I want to do.

Now it's time to relax in my recliner; one of my favorite TV shows is on today, "Shark Tank".  There isn't much I watch on TV, but I always enjoy this one.