Early Spring...

I've been so busy recently. Took my sis to breakfast and to the Antique Mall last weekend. It was such a fun morning. Shared recent news and reminisced over old family stories. We scored some more family photos at the mall! In one lot, there was my own wedding photo which I'd given a great aunt and uncle. You just never know what you'll find when you go treasure hunting. Does that mean my sweetheart and I are now antiques? Or at least very collectible?

My youngest was on his break between winter session and spring semester. It was very nice having him home. I know the days of him hanging out with us may be very short. He graduates from college this year, and who knows where his future will take him. My mom heart is praying he gets a fantastic job, but just not too far away. That's reasonable, right?

Last evening we went to dinner at Red Robin, with two of our best friends. I tried their french dip with grilled onions. Oh my, it was so good! I've found a new favorite! Afterward, we went back to their home and played Dominoes. We had so many laughs. It was a wonderful time.

I've spent part of today scanning old negatives onto my computer. It's a long-term project which I started two or three years ago. It's very time consuming, but will be worth it to have our photos backed up on computer and in "the cloud" wherever that really is.

It feels like an early spring really is in store this year. I am definitely ready for it. Spring is already in my heart today!

© 06Feb2016 ajj

CAT Scan Results

Well, they found a small tumor in the parathyroid.  Doctor feels it's benign, but wants me to see an ENT surgeon for evaluation.  We'll be deciding whether to "watch and wait" or "remove"...  I'm already leaning toward removal.  My appointment with the ENT is next Tuesday afternoon, so for those of you who pray... please remember me in your prayers.  For those who don't, just send your good thoughts my way.

I do believe prayer is our most powerful healing tool.  I also believe in the talents and knowledge God has given doctors. 

God alone knows the number of my days, and nothing can interfere with His plans for my life.  Don't get me wrong... I am asking and praying for complete healing... but my heart is at peace, because I know who holds me in the palm of His mighty hand.

Bright note!  My sis arrives tomorrow!  I'm so excited to see her!

Blessings,
Nita Jo

I'm Back...

I've been online a few times, but just hadn't taken the time to get back to blogging.  Still working out computer issues, as always.  We went to visit my father-in-law.  I hadn't been over in four years, and it was nice to be able to travel again.  I did really well on the trip.  Didn't even have to take much pain medication.

Today I'm waiting on CAT Scan results.  Had to have two of them done last Thursday.  Most of you know how claustrophobic I am, so when they said they'd have to bind my arms for the second scan, I could feel the panic rising.  The scans were four hours apart, so I took an extra Xanax for the second one, prayed a lot, and practiced visualizing happy things.  I did just fine with it, but was pretty groggy from the Xanax well into the next day.

Anybody else out there with "space" issues?  I do not like small, confined spaces... MRI machines, elevators, tiny rooms with only one exit (this is why I won't see movies at the historic Flicks movie theatres anymore)...

I was able to get out to church yesterday.  It was a great service, and was just what I needed.  It is always good to look outside yourself and your circumstances.  Perspective.  Positive attitude...

These are definitely things I needed this past couple of days.  We made the mistake of co-signing for an apartment rental for someone.  They didn't default, but the roommate did.  Although we were told my husband was only signing for one, the fine print legally tied him to the roommates debt.  After a large hit to our credit card (which we have been trying so hard to pay down) and many tears of frustration, we can say "lesson learned" and try to move on.  We hope at some point the young lady will pay us back.

Happy news!  My youngest sis is coming to visit for a few days, first at my home and then over to her mom's.  It's been about four years since she's been here.  I am so excited to see her!  I'm trying to think of what all we can squeeze into the two days that she's staying with me.  We have so much to catch up on!

Well, I know this was a long, long post... just so much on my mind today.
I hope you're all enjoying the wonderful autumn weather like I am! 

Blessings!
Nita Jo

Update:  In case anyone "guessed" the identity of the young lady we covered the debt for.  There were extenuating circumstances, landlord difficulties, etc.  Also, once she learned what we'd done, she immediately made plans to pay us back.  Awesome young woman!

Sunday Scribblings - Phantoms & Shadows

#147 -- Phantoms & Shadows is the prompt for this weeks Sunday Scribblings.
Things and people, times, places, events and how your memory has treated them. Are there people you try to remember more clearly, phantoms you'd like to reach back into the past and take a firm hold of? What do you remember of your early school years? College years? Your grandparents? First pets, first houses, first friends? Do you have a good or poor memory? If you could go back to any particular time/place to recall more vividly what it was like, what would that be?

Here is my response to the prompt:


Memories. They come flooding in like a heavy rain. Laughing with my little brother. Squeezing Mom's arm (our version of a hug). Living out back yard adventures with my little sis.

Digging bare toes into the dusty ditchbank. Dropping to my knees to watch the water skippers. Caught one! It looked huge in my small hand. I gently let it drop back into the water and it glides smoothly away across the surface. "Come wash up for dinner!" Grandma calls to me from the back door.

We sit. Grandpa says the blessing. I listen as they talk about the day. Sis keeps kicking my leg under the table and I'd like to smack her a good one, but I know the penalty is too high. Instead I give her the "you'd better stop it right now or else" look. She just grins. It's hard to be mad at a face like that.

The back yard is warm and breezy. Grandma sits in the white metal lawn chair. Sis crawls on her lap with a book. "Wead this to me Gwamma." It's "I Like Kindergarten" and I listen as I search in the thick lawn for a four leaf clover. I found one once. I keep it pressed in my Bible.

As the sun begins to set, the moonflowers start to open. I watch with fascination as they turn from bud to bloom. Yellow, like a summer moon. I can smell the sweetness of the copper roses in the air.

Memories come and go. I must remember to put them to paper while they are here. Too quickly they fade into the distance and are forgotten.

Copyright January 2009 - ajj

Birthdays, Cousins, Where Does Time Go?

Today is my cousin's 49th birthday! Really? 49?
But I'm only 30 something aren't I?
How is it my younger cousin got older than me?
Ok... I'm having an extreme moment of denial, but 49? Oh my!

I took this picture with my little Brownie camera on an Easter Sunday, many years ago. It's my sis, and cousins (from right to left) KLR, KDR, and PKR.

Here PKR is, on his knees, during a performance of Godspell.

(it's the November 18th post)

You are lookin' good PKR!

"Happy Birthday toooo you!"

And, KLR took this one of me! Oh my...

Speaking of birthdays, I celebrated mine on Sunday... my 52nd! Ouch! There's a dose of reality, but the alternative to having a birthday is not so great! I'm thankful for every new day I am given, wrinkles and all!


My husband surprised my with a brand new RED (my favorite color) Kodak EasyShare Camera! And a case! I was so surprised! I've haven't had time to play with it yet, but I will be posting some pictures soon.


He baked me a Pineapple Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting! Heaven! And he picked up one of my favorite dinners, Lemon Rosemary Chicken, from Johnny Carino's. We relaxed, watched some TV with my boys, ate more cake... It was a beautiful, relaxing birthday.

Incorrigible Bragging... and the Tasmanian Devil...

Good afternoon! Thursday was an amazing day. I had an early lunch with my little sis, and my cousin, Laurie. We had lots to talk about! My nephew recently graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in LA. We're all so proud of him. Here are a couple of recent photos.

Of course, we think he is just wonderful! We look forward to seeing where his career will take him!

My sis, my cousin, and I always have a fun time getting together, reminiscing, and sharing what's new in our lives. My sis spends much of her free time involved with the local film and theatre community. She's done some acting, some behind the scenes work... just whatever they ask of her. She loves it. As you can see from the pictures, it runs in the family.

I've talked about Laurie before. Her new CD is wonderful, as was her first. If you click on the title of her CD, "Perhaps God", over to the right side of my blog, it will take you to CDBaby.com where you can hear samples of her work. You can also read about who she is, and there is a link to her first CD. I will probably bring up her music again, because I think it is so inspiring and I'd like people to get to know this amazing Christian artist. If you want to read my former blog about the cd, it's called Perhaps God and was posted June 12, 2008.

Ok... enough bragging, though it is well deserved...

Our kitty is driving me to distraction. She is unhappy that my oldest son is rarely here. He is the one who rescued her from being sent to the local animal shelter. Her owner abandoned her at the veterinarian office where MJ used to work. He fell for her sweet, quiet ways. Now, she "meows" with sad abandon at the door to his empty room. It's alternately sweet and annoying.

Poor Mooska. MJ now works longer hours doing graphics for a local news station. She tries to get some attention from my younger son, EJ, but he keeps himself very busy too. Mooska is letting me know by her pitiful crys. When she's not doing that, she is wrapped around my ankles. I've nearly fallen on my face while trying to avoid stepping on her. She whips around my ankles like a whirling dervish... think Tasmanian Devil.

I warned her last night that if I do fall, she will be certainly crushed to death under the weight of a 50 something, XL, somewhat irritated, mom of two. She threw me a rather nasty look. Really. I know you all think I'm the nutty one of the two (after all, I'm conversing with my cat), but I'm sure she was giving me "the look". The one we gave our kids when we were trying to keep them quiet in church, or from misbehaving in a crowded restaurant.


Well, on that thought I bid you a happy, blessed day!

Faithful in Small Things

Well, it's been an odd holiday weekend. Still not feeling quite myself... been in a slump physically, but my mind and hands have been busy. Getting little things done around my home. Purging old paperwork, sorting out my art supplies, even doing a couple little art projects. That has been fun. I'm trying to get one completed for the Mind Wide Open project. I'm doing a simple piece, as it's a new venture for me.

PJ has been dividing his time between the Northwest Motor Fest, painting our house, and worrying about me. We celebrated 27 years together yesterday. I was happy he got the holiday weekend off. That is so rare! He has a 52 Chevy that he loves to tinker with and drive to the nearby car shows. With the gas prices, that is putting a pinch in the car show trips!

The picture is from our trip to the Oregon coast for our 25th Anniversary. The first time we had been able to take a vacation during 4th of July week!

My sweet husband bought me Season 7 of Gilmore Girls and a cd, Raising Sand by Alison Krauss and Robert Plant. I'm listening to it right now. Love it! Watched an episode of Gilmore last night. It is such a well written series. Mix of drama, love, humor. Okay, that's enough advertising.

PJ also picked up dinner for the family from Applebees. I haven't been back there since my Grandma went into assisted living. I used to take her there for lunch once or twice every week. When she couldn't get out any more I would pick up carside-to-go.


Funny how a place like that can hold so many memories. Anyway, I really enjoyed the food and maybe I'll actually go there in person again one day. This is a picture of Grandma and my little sis. Aren't they cute!

Grandma has always been faithful in the small and the big things. Someone I could depend upon. Now, she depends on others and for the most part has adjusted to that.

PJ has been faithful in all things! He took my diagnosis of MS a few years ago like he takes everything that comes our way. Head on, and continually reminding me that he's in this for the long haul... no matter what! It hasn't been easy on him, but he never complains about it. He is one in a million. Sooo, my quote for today:

"Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies." - Mother Teresa

Music, Books and Memories

That's my little Sis and I sitting at the organ in our home on N. Meridian Road. We called it the "White House" because the former owner was named White.

I began my piano lessons on this organ. Then a family loaned us a piano for a couple of years until my mom bought us one. It was a huge, heavy Oak upright that has traveled everywhere I've gone. I'm sitting at my desk, right next to it, as I type this.

The first song I remember learning on the organ was Long, Long Ago and oddly enough, it was in an old song book I acquired recently.

"Tell me the tales that to me were so dear. Long, long ago... long, long ago. Sing me the songs I delighted to hear. Long, long ago, long ago..."

I have been traveling back in time, seeing long forgotten images. Grandma sitting in an old metal lawn chair with my little sis on one knee, and I am sitting in the grass, with my head resting on her other knee. She is reading "I Like Kindergarten". Sis and I loved that book.

I loved any books that were read to me or that I could read. I scoured the bookshelves at our house. My grandparents had an odd assortment of books. A lot of religious books, a copy of The Yearling, Cross Creek, two Dana Girl Mysteries that had belonged to our aunt, and our set of Childcraft Encylopedias. Sis and I had several Golden Books, Dr. Suess books and a small selection received as gifts; Daddy Long Legs, Dear Enemy, and the Bobbsey Twins, to name a few.

As I grew older, books were added to my collection through the school's Scholastic Book Club. I loved that little newsletter with all the colorful book covers and descriptions. I would study it from front to back, carefully making my selection. "Run Wild, Run Free, White Fang, Misty of Chincoteague, Ring of Bright Water, The Incredible Journey, David Copperfield, Anne of Green Gables.

I still have a tremendous love of music and books. I listen more than play these days, but I still spend a great deal of time reading. Books can take you away from yourself, and sometimes they can help you find out who you really are.