Today I am thankful for:
Rediscovering this blog AND the password for the blog! I had forgotten which blog page and even what it was called - luckily I noticed a link in the 200 or so bookmarks I was deleting!I don't know how long I will keep it up this time, or how often, but I am thankful I found it! Good memories!

Speaking of memories, This past March, I spent five nights at Ocean Shores on a solo trip just recharging my batteries, I think. I had planned to do some clamming, walk the beach and long walks hunting for agates ,but my body decided otherwise. RA has progressed to the point where it’s getting painful to walk more in 10 minutes at a time before needing to rest.
When I went out clamming I found out that my hands couldn't press down the clam gun hard enough in order to create enough suction to pull up the clam. I did manage to get one clam but I I was so exhausted by that time that I gave it to a very startled woman on the way back to my car ....and then spent the rest the stay just kind of relaxing and being lazy in the hotel room. I did swim once, but the pool was kind of skuzzy. I think 90% of the hotels at Ocean Shores were built in the 60's, and it shows.

Today I am praying for:
Peace. Peace in our neighborhoods, peace in our schools, peace in our government, peace on our roads, peace between human beings, and other human beings. People have forgotten that we’re all in this together.

I want to try and make as many people smile each day as possible. It’s amazing how little you have to do to make the cashier or the bank teller or the grocery stocker or anyone you see, smile.

A thank you and a smile is usually returned so you don’t have to ever worry about running out of them!

Today I am reading:
Game of Thrones - Book 1
I randomly decided to buy the four book set of the Game of Thrones.No idea why just curious, I guess. I tried watching the television series, but it was too violent and loud.I just don’t like really loud tv anymore. Or suspense!  I cannot stand suspense movies anymore. Seriously,  I feel like my heart’s gonna jump right out of my chest - I can’t do it! So anyway, back to the books, I’m surprised I’m liking them much better than the first season that I did watch. I feel like there’s more description and thought process is going on. I’m pleasantly surprised that I like it so far. 

I may update later…

Today I am looking toward:
To a little trip to Victoria British Columbia with my daughter and her daughter.  It’s not a very long trip just three nights and I decided upon Victoria British Columbia because it’s the weekend of the coronation of King Charles III.

Since I can’t be in England, (and I don’t know if I want to with all the crowds are going to be definitely there) I decided to go to a British commonwealth, and the nearest British commonwealth is Victoria BC, well, Vancouver is closer, but Victoria is so British to me! 

Lots of things to see you there and food to eat and hopefully not a whole Lotta walking. I plan to be using Uber a lot :-)

Today I am remembering:
I’ve been remembering mom, the way she used to be - she’s in the advanced stages of dementia, and there’s so many things I wish I would’ve said to her, asked her, shown her,  and did with her.

This past week she was sitting in front of a window and the sun was coming through and she was just staring outside. No emotion at all on her face, but I was just wondering what’s going on in her head ….is she remembering? Is she seeing the past? The present? I don’t know. 

I wish I could talk with her.

Today I am thankful for:
The fact that I am retired from my job at as bookkeeper and now have time to redecorate rooms as the children have grown up and left, and also time for new hobbies and restarting old hobbies. I have built 3 dollhouses and will make individual blogs about them later. Almost all the children have grown and left home and while I do miss them, I am enjoying the moments of totally my time. Silence is amazing, lol! I still get calls from my replacements at work, so I am not totally done yet, but in an advisory position I am only contacted for about 2 hours twice a week, and I can advise them from home thankfully! I miss my coworkers, I hope we can stay in touch ladies night once a week or something! I am also grateful for Farmers markets - I enjoy them so much!

Today I am praying for:
My husband who started a new job last month and it's not at all what he is used to. I'm afraid its just not something he enjoys, but hopefully in the not too far future he will be working from home half the week. 

Today I am reading:
I am in the middle of two books right now,  The Nine of Us:Growing Up Kennedy by Jean Kennedy Smith and also Beach Music by Pat Conroy - both are very compelling.
I have enjoyed hearing Jean Kennedy relate so many really sweet stories from her childhood, but besides a few lines discussing certain events, she bypasses sad or upsetting memories. And God knows the Kennedy family had so many of those, perhaps that was why? Everyone knows the horrible events that befell her family, but not so many know of the intimate memories the children made with each other. I do wish though, to hear more of her thoughts on some of the events that shaped the Kennedy years.

Beach Music by Pat Conroy is another of his amazing stories - so good, it's just one of those books that I don't want to end, but I am dying to read how it ends, lol
One thing I find interesting is that his characters are usually bitter ex Catholic's who alternately hate and love the Church and was raised by violent fathers. Many of his criticisms of the Church are very true though, and also his giving credit when credit is due. It's confusing sometimes, but I think that is what makes clear that he seems to be writing with versions of himself as the protagonist. Maybe all authors do a bit of that?

Today I am looking toward: 
I don't know if I am necessarily looking forward to anything right now, I'm just content to live in the right now. :-) But I could go for some Samosas from the Farmers Market right now!

Today I am remembering:
...Our trip in April to Italy so much lately, I so want to travel more, I'm hoping we can get another international trip in 2020. Greece? London? Wales? I'm easy, I don't care, I just want to see the world, and also the United States. I could really get on board a road trip all along the Southern States! More photos from the Italy trip in the coming days :-) 

11/2/2015 All Soul's Day

Today I am thankful for:

+ Mondays - I have no work on Monday so I stay in bed reading for as long as possible.
+ My oldest son, for calling us up to join him at our little cemetery in town to pray for the faithful departed.
+ My little grandbabies who make me so happy to visit with them, but also so happy I don't have babies at home anymore!
+ Torrential downpours when I am safe and dry inside my house

Today I am praying for:
+My high school friend who lost her daughter to CF - My friend is the strongest woman I know, and I am so thankful she is sharing her feelings about this journey of sorrow she is on.
+All my deceased family and friends and also for all people who have no one left to remember to pray for them
+For J and J, may he overcome all his challenges and may J be his reason for triumphing over his cross.


Today I am reading:

+ Mrs. Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, by Ransom Riggs - Actually I am re-reading it in advance of this new book, the 3rd in the series, that just came out. I really likes Mrs. Peregrine, but the 2nd book, Hollow City, was hard to follow. I'm hoping that a re-reading of both of them will answer some questions.
It's about a young man's coming of age amidst death and a fantasmical ( real word, no lie!! :-)  ) journey to another dimension/world filled with danger, more death and love. It's funny in parts, especially when describing his fellow "peculiars" but it's also sad, especially the children in the home, caught in a horrible continual repeat of the last day of their lives. And when it all falls apart, it seems like that was the least of their fears.


Today I am looking toward: 
+ The holidays! Crafts, baking, shopping, music, the joy of family.
+ Snow? Please?
+ A Christmas time trip to Spokane with a visit to the Davenport hotel to see all the beautiful decorations and a visit across the street to Bruttles to see all the beautiful chocolates!


Today I am remembering:
+ How much I used to enjoy my job, and Sundays. To go to Mass and know that I belonged somewhere. My boss/friend/spiritual director was reassigned and I feel cheated, betrayed and at a loss with how to move forward. I told him as he said goodbye, that as an Army Brat (he is a navy Brat!) I am used to saying goodbye. It's funny, I raged in the car all the way home that day, and I thought I got it out of my system, but I didn't.  But I will, I always do. Time heals so many wounds, we'll find a rhythm in our new parish and who knows, we might even find a few friends! But I will never ever ever find a boss as fun Fr. Maurer is. Trekkie, gaming geek, computer nerd and one of the most reverent priests who ever was too scared to watch The Walking Dead!

5/25/15 Memorial Day

5/25/15 Memorial Day 

Today I am thankful for:
+ Cloudy mornings and warm beds for sleeping in late
+ Music from the Walking Dead

+ Wind chimes my son made for me 
+ Most of all, I am thankful for all the brave men and women who gave their lives defending the ideal of Freedom

Today I am praying for: 
+  For Misty who is on her way to heaven soon after a valiant fight.....but God willing not just yet.

+  For Adrian, and his family as a 2nd summer begins without him. May his family,and his friends continue to heal and the terrible memories of that day fade and be replaced with memories of joy and happiness when they were in his company.
+   For peace, that people realize their brotherhood with each other, under our Father in heaven
+  For all the dead, through all the wars, that we start valuing life more and more each day.

May all the souls of the faithful departed, 

through the mercy of God, 

rest In Peace

Today I am reading:
+   Resistance: A Frenchwoman's Journal of the War by Agnes Humbert & Barbara Mellor 
Very interesting book to read before our trip. I am going to be reading many that will enrich our visit to Paris, Normandy and London - we are such history nuts!

+  Paris I Love You, But You're Bringing Me Down by Rosecrans Baldwin
Funny, but a little odd too. Can't quite figure out if I like it yet

+ London 1945: Life in The Debris of War  by Maureen Waller

I've just looked at the pictures in the middle of the book so far (don't judge! :-) I think it's geared towards after the war and how they picked up the pieces and moved on. I was hoping for more about the day to day surviving in London during the war, but I may give it a shot.

Today I am looking toward: 
+ Our trip to Paris in July 2015

Today I am remembering:
+  My father, Major C.L. Bahm Jr

Happy 4th of July!

My boy is coming home soon!
Back to the Good Old USA!

I love the beginning of summer!