This morning I slept in a little later-didn't get out of bed until about 7:15! That is pretty late for a Sunday.  We got ready in a hurry and went to church.  The little man was excited to get to his class this morning, he wanted to be the first one there.  He was-and then waited for 20 minutes for another classmate to arrive.  He was in a good mood today and had fun in his Bible study class.  That always makes me a happy mom!

Church was good too.  I have to admit that I got a little distracted during the sermon.  I ended up listening to probably half of it, and then I was reading out of Exodus for the other half of the time.  At least I wasn't just daydreaming or something like that.  I have been reading out of Exodus for awhile on my own now-I really like the stories there and think there are many lessons to be learned.

We are home for a few hours now, as my son has to do his homework and reading. Then we will be heading back to church for the bake auction/talent show.  I have never been to a combo event before-usually they are separate.  This should be fun. 

My recipe for the week was the chocolate mint bars which were prepared for this sale.  I had never made them before and they just turned out so pretty! I hope they taste good too.

I need to go start a load of laundry! 

What a week! 

Wednesday after work I went and picked up the keys from the people who have been renting my house for the last several years.  We said good bye, exchanged hugs, etc.  No problem.  I met the lady at her office because it was on my way home, rather than having to drive anywhere else.

Thursday:  Got off work early and went to meet the realtor at the house so she could take a few pictures and get it ready to list again.  I was absolutely horrified by the condition the house is in.  I spent about 4 hours crying.  I ended up with hives because I got so worked up.  The bedrooms, which are the only rooms with carpeting, are trashed.  The carpets look like someone sprayed cans of soda all around the room and left.  The master bathroom shower door is so covered in buildup and even moldy spots that the room literally stinks.  It is absolutely disgusting.  The back door was so caked full of dog hair and dirt that it won't go shut-it had a board in it to keep someone from being able to open it from the outside.  What the heck!?!  I am absolutely disgusted by how bad people live.  There were more damages including some to the ceiling, and just very dirty in general, but at this point I don't even want to think about it, let alone type it all out.  I have been working with my ex husband this week to get it back in line so it can be rented again.  There are several repairs that have to be made first though.  Very depressing.

Friday:  Went to eat pizza with friend from church and my son.  It was a good time.

Saturday:  Up early this morning-helped friend's daughter have a yard sale so she can clear her closets in preparation for college and also make a little extra $$.  She made about $75 I guess, so she seemed happy with that.  While the yard sale was going on, we also made some baked items (apple pie and chocolate mint bars) to take to the church sale tomorrow.  Then we left and went over to T's house and hung out there with him.  He and I ended up taking a nap for about an hour on the couch during the Phineas and Ferb marathon that my son was watching.  oops!  Later we got a pizza and rented the movie called Real Steel, with Hugh Grant. I had never even heard of that movie before but it turned out to be really very good!

Tomorrow:  Church in the morning- meeting a repairman at the house at 11:00, then back to church at 4:00 for the talent and bake auction.  Should be a busy day!

Grandma still not doing so good.  Lots of problems mentally.  She can't remember things from one minute to the next, including who our family members are.  Her blood sugars seem to be completely out of control no matter how they adjust the insulin. It is sad and a big mess.  The back brace doesn't really seem to be helping her spinal fracture but they can't do surgery on her.  I feel so badly about the whole situation and I just wish I could fix it. Poor thing.  Praying over that every day.

Guess that is all for today!  Oh, I am sad that I can't get the "currently reading" link to work . Is anyone else having problems?

I had a funny and interesting conversation with my little man on the way home from work today.  He started off by asking me if I am his cousin's aunt.  I explained that since his dad and I are divorced, that... no.. I am not technically her aunt(she was born well after our divorce), but she will always be welcome to call me that if she likes and that I love her all the same no matter what.  Then my little man proceeded to inform me that even though his dad and I are divorced, that I really am still her aunt because when I married his dad and we kissed, my body was transformed over to his dad's side.  I asked him if that was the way it worked, and he went on to explain that YES! During the kiss, certain body parts go over on to the dad's side, and that is why even though we are divorced, that I am still her real aunt.  He was very matter of fact about this issue...it was quite comical.  I just love that kid.  And now I know that I have been "transformed".  Heheheh.

What a crazy busy Monday!  I never stopped running around all day.  That was fine, though, because I got lots of work done and didn't get bored!

This evening I had a blast with my son.  We came home and he spent quite awhile doing his homework, and then we went up to the park.  We met with my friend Kris, and her daughter and some of her daughter's friends.  The kids all rode bikes together and played on the playground.  Kris and I walked laps around the track.  That was nice because it went in keeping with my renewed goal of exercising 3 times a week.  I decided to try to get back on track with that failed New Year's Resolution after helping my friend move this weekend. I am in pathetically bad shape.  So=this was a good start to the week!  We also agreed to meet back at the same park at the same time on Thursday, so that is good!

How many times each day do you floss your teeth?  I'm curious.

Thank you for your comments on the guy and the Xanga site issue.  In the end, I really don't feel it necessary to change my Xanga name, or anything like that.  I think the whole time I've used Xanga (years and years now) I have only locked about 3 entries to friends lock...and that was it, because I simply haven't had to worry about it. I know that he is a trustworthy person and so I'm going to let it go and just not worry about it.  It isn't as though I have any sort of secret life that I don't want people knowing about...more that Xanga has always been just MY place-where I can vent about anything I want without risk of offending or hurting anyone that I know.  I've also managed to gain several really great friends from here in the process, which has just been wonderful.  Just the idea of that having to change at all really threw me off, and I know that it was just because he didn't understand that.  He does now, so... I will just let it be.

In other news:

I've decided that I really like Fresh Step cat litter.  I had switched to the Arm & Hammer kind and it was horrible!  I ended up switching back even though this kind is more expensive.  Also on the subject of cats: I had a great nap with Trouble this afternoon.  She is such a cute little jerk.  For such a small cat, she certainly lives up to her name.  I think I'll name the next stray I pick up something like "Sweet", or even "Healthy".  Maybe that would work out better.  hahahah

My recipe for the week was Cherry Baked Beans.  It turned out pretty good!  Actually I had some last night after I got done cooking it, and I had some tonight for dinner and ended up liking it better today.  I think the tastes had time to settle.  Anyway, it had 2 cans of pork & beans, 1 can of kidney beans, a pound of hamburger, envelope of onion soup mix, a cup of ketchup, some mustard, a can of tart red cherries, and a little bit of apple cider vinegar. It was a recipe from a Country Woman magazine that I found from years ago.

Grease just came on TV.  I like this movie-it cracks me up.  All the main characters look like they were about 30 years old instead of seniors in highschool.  Funny. 

I forgot to put an update last week...my dad did end up getting a horse!  He bought one off of a guy up in Kingman.  He went and picked it up last week on Tuesday.  I haven't seen the horse, or a picture, so far...but they said it is a black and white paint mare named Dakota.  I think 7 years old.  Sounds perfect for what my dad was looking for.

This morning I worked at the office and then helped a friend move.  She moved from one apartment to another one a few miles down the road.  The nice thing is that even though they are so close together, the new one is SOOOO nice in comparison.  She has worked really hard to be able to afford the new place and I'm really happy for her.

Last night I went with a lady from church to a meeting regarding the Operation Shoebox ministry at church.  I am going to be helping with that more this year, and this meeting was pretty neat to go to and see what different ideas people have and things like that.  Very cool. 

A WEIRD thing happened to me this week.  I found it very upsetting, but I guess I'm over it, although still sort of weirded out.  I may have mentioned that I've been seeing a guy from church.  I started seeing him a little in November, and then ever since then.  The guy is very nice, a strong Christian man, and is very nice.  The problem I've had with him is that he is very pushy.  He wants to know everything about me, and be involved in all parts of my life.  I told him right up front that I didn't want to jump into anything, etc.  He understands that but just by nature he is a pushy guy and some days he just can't seem to help himself.  Anyway, the other day we were talking and he mentioned that he had made a Xanga account one day after seeing the Xanga page on my computer screen.  He was apparently going to try to find my account and leave a comment.  That creeps me right out.  I had already told him that I blog,but that it is private and that I didn't want to share it with people, other than just bits and pieces that I might tell them or read to them about.  He said that he understood, but then now, months later I found out that he had created the account.  At the time I had only been seeing him for a few weeks, if that.  That just really bothers me.  I do understand that he is not a malicious person in any way, and at the time, in his mind, my Xanga was just sort of like an alternate Facebook and he thought it would be fun to leave a comment.  He does understand now that this is my version of a journal and that he is not welcome to read it right now.  He felt really badly about it and went to try and delete his account.  He couldn't, because he couldn't remember his login and password info and had deleted the confirmation email.  I really and truly believe that he would not invade and even if he had the information, he wouldn't visit my site, but the whole thing really kind of dumbfounded me.  It was weird.  I don't quite know what to make of it.  I did tell him that while I believe him about where he was coming from now, that if I had found out about it months ago, or if he had in fact gone to my site and commented, that I would not have seen him again because that would have been completely out of line when I had already told him it was private.  He was horrified by that and apologized repeatedly.  I still don't know what to make of it.  I believe him, but at the same time, if he is tempted to do that kind of thing.... I just don't want to deal with it.  Maybe time to cut my losses?  Maybe time to forgive and move on and not worry about it?  What to do??? 

Today turned out to be a really good day at work!  The office was slow-probably because all the kids were too busy playing on their day off from school to admit to being sick, so it was a good chance to play catch up on some things since I missed the afternoon on Friday.  I do feel bad for one of my coworkers...my boss said something really kind of rude to her, right in front of other employees, and made her feel bad.  It was sad, and inappropriate.    Even if an employee needs to be reprimanded, there is a time and a place, and that didn't seem to be the one!

After work I had to make a trip to the electric company's business office.  When I called to have the power switched from my renter's name back over to mine when they move out at the end of the month, the lady told me there was conflicting info with my SSN, so I'd have to go in person.  Turns out that there was no problem at all, so I drove all the way down there for nothing.  Oh well, at least it is taken care of.  I'm trying to deal with that house in stride, because really, I can't stand it and I wish that I could sell it tomorrow.  It isn't worth a fraction of what I owe on it right now, so I'm hoping I can get it rented out again soon.  We shall see!!!   Leaving it in God's hands.

I talked on the phone with my grandma tonight.  She was out of it, from a mixture of the pain meds and blood sugar issues.  She was very peppy on the phone, but she was having one conversation and I was having another! Poor thing, none of her answers made any sense at all, but she sure was enjoying the conversation .  Looking at the positive, she wasn't in pain at that time, so that is good.  No matter what subject I would introduce she would always revert back to the food at the nursing home.  It was interesting.

I changed my sheets last night and I really like the current ones more than the other set.  The other ones must be approximately 425 years old, and they are really thin and pilly.  These current ones are pretty old too, but they don't have the little fuzzballs everywhere, and I really enjoyed them.  I have been thinking about that all day...  Wow....doesn't take much to make me happy!

I wonder what percentage of people sleep with their socks on vs. those who don't.  I usually go to bed with my socks on, and then kick them off at some point.  So, if I'm not careful, I could end up with a GIANT pile of socks at the end of my bed. 

This morning my son and I slept in, which ended up being only until 6:30 (I was shocked-I fully expected to sleep until 8:00!!!), and then got up and met a friend from church for breakfast.  That was Einstein Bagels, and I just love that place.  I had a honey wheat bagel with cream cheese, my son had a plain bagel with cream cheese, and the other person had a 4 cheese bagel.  The food was delicious and we had a good time.

Afterwards, my son and I took off and went to the far east valley to meet my parents at another horse sale.  This one turned out to be some sort of special event sale, with high dollar horses.  We left when we realized they were in the $20,000 range, because that is certainly not the price range my parents are looking for right now.  It was still fun to go.  When we left there, we went to the other salebarn, which is about 15 minutes down the road-but unfortunately they were already done selling and were only left with goats and sheep to auction off.  We didn't stay for that so came on back home. 

I have had a bit of a problem today with my son's attitude.  I hate that, because then I feel bad that I have to get him in trouble. I know, I know...all part of shaping a responsible and good adult, but it still always makes me feel like a jerk.  Oh well, it worked out...

And now we are home and doing laundry and stuff like that! 

Lots been going on around here lately-hasn't left me with much time to type.

First and foremost...my grandma. She is a severe diabetic and passed out from low sugar while driving her car down the road.  She ran four other vehicles off the road, the last one being a semi truck driver.  Then she crashed her own car off the road and into a fence post.  She totaled her car.  Was sent home from the hospital the next day because they couldn't find anything wrong, other than general aches and pains.  She kept getting worse and worse and ended up not being able to walk at all.  They took her back to the hospital where they have now discovered she has a broken back.  To make a long story incredibly short, she was in the regular hospital for a week, then transported to a nursing home/rehab center. There for 2 days and now has just been transferred back to hospital via ambulance because she has pneumonia as well as irregular heart rates... bad news.  She even has a pacemaker so that is extra yucky on the heart end.  And everyone knows how bad pneumonia is.  She is currently on oxygen in the ICU, but does seem to be responding to the oxygen favorably so far. (she has been on it for 3 hours).  I would like to ask everyone for prayer over this.... 

More later..

It is almost time to leave for work, but I have time to make a quick update.

I made the chocolate mousse horns on Friday.  They turned out REALLY GOOD!!!  I had never used puff pastry before, and it is so much fun!!  I had a great time making them, and a great time watching people eat them.  I tasted one, but I didn't eat a whole one because I am trying not to eat too much junk.  I had a bite of my son's.  When I finished them up, I had a couple friend from church here so they got to have one and then I sent two of the extras home with them.  I was pleased...this is my favorite 2012 new recipe yet!

Yesterday was so much fun!  My dad is in the market for a new horse-so we met him and my mom at the auction over in Chandler.  I just love going to the horse sale.  I always have!  I have really bad hay fever and allergies to the horse dust and stuff inside barns, so I actually had to leave early, but it was fantastic anyway.  Also a good reminder that I need to go get a new inhaler, because there was a moment of panic when I realized that I actually couldn't breathe properly and that it felt as though fire were in my lungs.  Anyway, the horses were pretty much junk so he didn't buy one, but the excitement of going to the horse sale was the same for me anyway.  My mom said it is like watching a kid at a carnival when we go places like that...even if i am almost 30.  Hahah

OK, off to church.  I have nursery today... I think!