5 Things I Meant to Do in 2009

5 Things that were on your list of things to do...but somehow, the year is over and you didn't get to it, didn't go there, or forgot you wanted to do that.

Sheryl's List of 5 Things I Meant to Do in 2009

1- The biggest one...I meant to go to Hawaii.....really...we did mean to go...for our 35th anniversary. We went for our 30th and said we would go back for our 35th but....somehow, we did not have the money or time we needed for our Hawaii vacation. That is a place of beauty and peace, the Land of God.

Instead, in July for our 35th anniversary we went to Eureka Springs, Arkansas and spent one night in a wonderful tree house in the woods. Loved that.

And then in October we took my mom and Triece to Florida for a week. That was an amazing trip.

So, as I write this I realize I am lucky that we did not go to Hawaii because I would not have wanted to miss either of these experiences.

2- I meant to get rid of more of my things..stuff...junk. This year we spent cleaning out Mom and Dad's house, after Dad passed. That does inspire me to get rid of more of the stuff I save. Why do we have so much STUFF !! I don't need it. I won't use it. It just sits and collects more dust. Actually, I think it sits and reproduces! I swear, I did clean out my junk "craft" room and the garage. But within a week...bam...shaboom.. or is is bibbity...bobbity..BOO...it is filled again !!! How did that happen?

Which probably brings me to point #3

3- I meant not to spend money wastefully. But as I look back over my checkbook and the Visa bill I realize I could have probably had enough money to go to Hawaii if I had not bought so many little useless things...stuff....junk. I could have saved $20 instead of buying the necklace with a 4 leaf clover on it. Because I actually wear the necklace that my mom and dad gave me almost all the time. (But clovers are my sign) I could have saved money cooking at home instead of eating out as much. (But it is just the 2 of us) I could have saved $10 instead of buying a photo album. Because I think I like my photos in photo boxes anyway.

That is just it....I hardly ever buy big items....it is the little amounts that add up.

4- I meant to play more with Kayla. She is 11 and a half now. We should have gone to the beach, we should have gone walking in the woods, we should have played games, we should have gone to the park, we should have gone sledding. But now this year is gone. Somehow, I feel we missed doing fun things. The first half of the year was busy taking care of the Sowers house. The second half of the year I let everything go. I was tired of responsibility...I was just... tired.

5- (Wow, I thought it would be harder to make out this list...but one thing leads to the other.)

I meant to take better care of myself. Last year I lost 25 pounds and I had only 5 more pounds to lose to be where I wanted. (Dad was so proud and Mom too) And then....I let go of ALL responsibility...I thought I do not care, I am tired, I will eat whatever I want and gain 5 pounds. Well, it is 6 months and 20 pounds later. I meant to go back to Weight Watchers. I meant to walk more. I meant to cook healthy food again.

So I guess....now know what my goals for 2010 are.

1-Enjoy any trip

2-Get rid of stuff

3-Don't spend money on more stuff...a little adds up to a lot
4-Take time to play with Kayla and my family
5-Take care of myself (why does that sound like the hardest thing?)

Wishing Everyone a Happy and Healthy 2010

Spirit of January

This is picture describes me pretty well.
The month of January is a time of hibernation for me. Especially right now. I can't seem to stay awake. I am slow and sleepy. So I am done now...going to bed.

What I Love About Christmas

Family... Wrapping a present so pretty no one wants to open it....Giving a pretty wrapped present to a person who appreciates it....Knowing Jesus is Love...Thin Sugar Cookies.." Let It Snow, Let It Snow"... Giving... My Santa Hat (only hat I look good in)... The song "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire"... Knowing Jesus is Hope...Playing games...Little kids believing in Santa... Christmas Lights... The calendars I make with Kayla's photos... Christmas cards... Knowing Jesus is Joy...Friends...Happy Christmas movies.... Skippy Lou with her Christmas collar... Kayla's angel picture. ..Making my ornaments...Sharing my Christmas ornaments ...Knowing Jesus is Peace... Making the calendar with Kathy...Christmas scavenger hunt for KK...Remembering making snow angels in Marvin and Mona's yard...The sweater that Stan always gets me for Christmas...A fire, even if it is only my video fire...Hugh snowflakes falling against the dark night sky.....Fresh fallen snow in the shining morning light...Believing

Perfect Snowy Night

In 1989 on a snowy winter night when most people were cuddled inside their homes, 3 teenagers and I were going sledding. Jeremy, Cindy and Angie were talking as I got out sleds, extra gloves and a pair of Stan's large blue coveralls for Jeremy.
We looked silly all bundled up tromping through the snow to find the bumpiest hill.
We'd slide alone....

We'd slide together...

We'd slide spinning...

and we'd fly through the air over the bump.

When we got tired of climbing back up the hill we would

lie in the snow and make angels,

stamp our names in the snow,

or just sit back and watch the snow float from the dark sky and talk

It was a perfect night. The falling snow muffled all the noise and we felt we were all alone in the a world of peace.

I went to the car to give the 3 teenagers time alone and I watched as they sat on the round red sleds at the top of the hill and talked.

Finally, when their butts were cold we would head to Hardees for hot cocoa and chocolate chip cookies.

Warmed up and happy, we returned home from our perfect snowy night

Let the Sun Shine In

I like this song...

So let the sun shine in
Face it with a grin
Smilers never lose
Frowners never win
So let the sun shine in
Face it with a grin
Open up your heart
And let the sun shine in.

The Magic Word

Kayla, 5 years old, walked up to an automatic door at the store. As she stepped up she tried to remember a magic word to open the doors. Finally she said, "Miracle!" and the doors opened. I think that is a wonderful magic word.

Where is my ambition?

Where is my ambition?

I don't think I have any.

Is it that I am afraid? Is it that I am lazy?

Is is because I don't know what I am worth?

Is it because I do not like to make decisions?

Is it because I don't want to take the lead?

Is it because I don't want responsibilty?

What is it that makes me nervous?

Why do I want to hide?

How does this make me feel?

Silly

little

girl

......

53

year old

little

girl.

Silly

Silly

Silly

Where is all of this coming from again?

Cindy has once again got me an opportunity to

paint at the dentist office.

Now I need to come up with ideas

(got that)

and worse still...pricing.

I've spent the day on the internet

gathering facts

getting ideas

seeing what others can do

and seeing that I can paint better than some.

I am sure that I can paint.

I can create.

I can give my talent to others.

I just have a hard time selling myself.

My friends encourage me.

My family tells me I am good.

My customers...(when they find me)

love my work.

Then why do I want to hide?

Silly

Silly girl

This is the painting I did for someone this week. It is his wife's cat and he had it painted for her as a Christmas present. It is an 8x10 and I got $50

What a Day at the Beach !

On our trip to Florida we had many wonderful and amazing experiences. But this one is one of the strongest in my mind.

We were at Siesta Beach in Florida. It is one the world's best beaches. Fine powder white sand. Beautiful clear blue water.

It was the fourth day of our vacation and late in the afternoon. It was the first time that Triece and I actually got into the water. It was a touch chilly but soon our bodies were used to the water. Stan retreated to the beach to lay in the sun. Mom was sitting near the life guard shack visiting Dad's cousin Gertude.

Our first neat experience was when Triece was standing in the water and a flock of hundreds of seagulls soared round and round and round Triece. I knew that she was feeling blessed in this moment. (Seagulls are her sign from her son, Jeremy)

As we stood in the water we could see people farther out standing on a sandbar. There were several dads with their children playing out there. Triece and I decide to go to the sandbar too. It was several yards out. The deepest spot we went through was up to our chins and then we were on the sandbar. We were standing in water knee deep. About that time the dad's and their kids went back to the beach and Triece and I were the only ones out there.

I had a water camera and took a couple of pictures of us. We were enjoying the view out there. I was just about to tell Triece when we were here with Cindy, Tadd and Kayla that Stan and Cindy were out here on a sandbar finding sand dollars and Stan felt a little creeped out because he felt like it was a good place for sharks. I was looking around and thinking about that and I was just about to tell her that and say we should go back to the beach. And then....Triece said, "Tell me I am not seeing what I'm seeing" As I looked where she pointed I saw a big dark spot under the clear water probably 40 feet away. My mind said it could be sea weed..... No. My mind said it could be a school of fish.....NO. Triece was waiting for me to tell her it was okay.....it was not what she thought. But as it came closer I knew it was a shark. It was a big shark. It was about 5 feet long. Moving slowing with it's tail moving back and forth. It moved parallel to beach. In the chin deep water we had waded through. If we had been in the water we would have not seen it, but since we were standing on the higher sandbar we could see it swimming closer to us. It stayed under the water.... 30 feet away...parallel to the beach.

My mind was thinking....how could you get help from the life guard....it would be too late. I could see my mom and reached up to wave my hat at her..maybe get some attention....then I thought I better not move at all...do not make any noise.....the shark moved closer...20 feet away...parallel to the beach.

I thought I brought my friend to Florida and I can't let her get bit by a shark. I took one small small step in front of her.

Triece said "What do we do?" I said "Act like it is a big dog and Do not move"

I started praying "Dear Lord Jesus...Dear Lord Jesus...." over and over.

Then it got straight in front of us....between the beach and the sandbar.

10 feet away.

And then my prayer became "Dear Lord Jesus Christ...Dear Lord Jesus Christ" as the shark made a direct turn and came toward us. Seriously...I could not believe this was happening. Triece was silent the whole time. We were standing arm in arm, close as can be. If the shark bit he would get both of us. I told her to pray. She was silent.

The shark was 3 feet in front of us...still below the water....coming straight at us. The dark shape was before us....it's nose was blunt....the body was flat and so wide....it was a bull shark...they are known to bite....I nudged Triece with my elbow and said "Pray with me...."Dear Lord Jesus Christ....Dear Lord Jesus Christ......" It moved a little closer...I nudged her harder.."PRAY" Together with eyes wide open never leaving the dark shape before us we prayed "DearLordJesusChristDearLordJesusChrsit"

The shark finally turned and started swimming parallel to the beach again...back in the chin deep water.

We stood in place. I was now praying "Dear Lord Jesus...Dear Lord Jesus" not so much for Triece and me but for others on down the beach.
Neither of us had screamed out "SHARK !!" Do you alarm others playing in the water? Would anyone believe what we saw?

We still stood quiet on the sandbar...praying that no one got bit. Lord, please don't let a child get bit as we watched and did not warn others. As the shark swam away from us we watched it until we could no longer see it under the water. I continued with my prayer until I felt the shark must have gone on by the others in the water.

Then we knew we had to go back across the channel of water that was chin deep to go back to the safety of the beach. Triece and I held on to each other as we moved as quickly through the water as we could.

When we got to the beach we told others we saw a big dark shape under the water. A group of women said that dolphins are seen out there often. At first we let our minds relax and think we were out there with a dolphin. And that would have been neat. We even went back into the water. But as Triece and I talked about it we knew for sure that this was a shark. We were close enough to see it because it came close enough to see us. Dolphins and sharks move differently. Dolphin tails move up and down. Shark tails move back and forth....YES IT DID. Dolphins have to come up for air about every 10-15 minutes. Sharks do not....IT DID NOT...not once come up for air.

I wish we knew how long we watched the shark....it seemed like a long time...it seemed like a short time....it seemed like TOO much time.

I cannot believe that happened. I cannot believe I was in the water with a shark looking at me. It was an amazing adventure with my friend beside me. Since no one got hurt I am happy to have had this WOW experience that I will remember for the rest of my life.

Thank You...Dear Lord Jesus Christ....for keeping us safe.

This is not the actual shark we saw.... I had a water camera but was not going to raise a camera over my eyes to take a picture....I was not going to move at all. This picture is off the internet and looks like what we saw. The fin was always below the water as it moved along the sandy bottom.

What a day at the beach!!!!

Julie's Benenfit

What a wonderful experience to be able to help with a benefit for Julie.
It took so many to make this one of the best benefits that people have seen.
It took a planner, a note taker, a cordinator.....Thank God for her.
It took donation getters.....Thank God for them.
It took donation givers....Thank God for them
It took basket makers....Thank God for them.
It took food planners and servers...Thank God for them.
It took runners for supplies....Thank God for them.
It took set up and take down people ...Thank God for them.
It took sellers and buyers, or rather, givers...Thank God for them.

But all the planning and doing would not have been successful without all the friends and family that showed up to support Julie.....Thank God for them.

The benefit would not have been one of the best without Julie...she is the one who all the people showed up to help....the one who people were inspired to give $18,000 to. ....Thank God for Julie.

It took the leader, the girl with the smile, the inspiritation...Thank God for Julie.

You have blessed Julie with family and friends.....Thank you God.

What an amazing experience to share with so many different people.

Things I Love about Fall

The color orange ***Pumpkins ***Smiling scarecrows *** Warm Glowing Fires *** Marshmellows with Hershey bar inside *** Full harvest moons *** Ghost Stories *** Pumpkin Donuts *** Hot Coffee *** My fuzzy soft blanket *** Colorful leaves *** Blue skies **** Acorns **** Carving Pumpkins *** More Ghost Stories ***Kathys pumkpin muffins *** Cool sleeping weather ***Painting Pumpkins

Perfect Prayers

There are times it is so difficult that you hardly know how to pray. That is when I take comfort that my angels will take my simplest prayer and carry it before God and make it perfect.
It is at these times that my heartfelt prayer is often "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus...(and I add the name for whom I am concerned)"

And the other perfect prayer is "Thank You Lord". And then the angels sing in heaven in response.

What I want...

(In Response to Rachels "What I want")

I want new carpet..kitchen...bed...flooring...bathroom.

I want a new couch and loveseat

I want a house that is done and over with the 70"s style

I want ...more stuff...a new bigger camera

I want less stuff....rooms not to be overflowing

I want Stan to do more things with us...like camping...that was so nice.

I want "Cindy to be happy for once in her life" (quoting KK)

I want KK to be safe always.

I want more prayers to be answered.

I want to talk more and not be so silent.

I want to get back to church...I have been absent since Dad died. Why?...I think it is because I let go of all responsibilty....I still have faith...I still have God....I just don't have the church.

I want to lose the weight I gained back after I let go of responsibilty.

I want my mom to be able to enjoy her life for a while.


I want my family to be happy, healthy, and have enough to enjoy life

I want to go to Hawaii.

I want me to be happy, healthy, and have enough to ENJOY life.

In every thought

What is actually just beneath every thought I have is...Julie Neuses. She hasn't been my friend for very long. How long has it been? Maybe 6 or 7 years...maybe 10. She works with Vicky at UPS...and became my good friend though her.

Julie is 52...with blue eyes, a big smile and a ready laugh. She is the most friendly person. Lots of people care for her. She has 2 sons Nick and Nathan. They are in Florida with their dad.
She has recently had to put her mom in a nursing home. She has a brother and sister-in-law that live in Decatur. They have been a great help to Julie in this last year.
The last 2 years have been one thing after another for Julie.
Julie started out with Vaginal cancer. Now it has moved to lymph and liver.

God I want a miracle for my friend.
God I want a miracle for my friend
God I want a miracle for my friend
God I want a miracle for my friend
God I want a miracle for my friend

That is why my friend Julie is always on my mind and in my heart and in my prayers........
morning
noon
and night.