Six Words Saturday

I feel the need to swim!

2.5 Miles

That is the distance from our house to the intersection where two drugstores, our bank, pet food store, two fast food restaurants, and one grocery store are located.

When our car died this past February, we didn't have the $$$ to fix it and with the economy, didn't want to try and take on a car payment, so we decided to get bikes since we were so *close* to all our usual spots.   My husband works at home for his full-time job, and takes the bus on the weekends for his part-time job, so we have been able to fairly easily make do w/o a car.  I have a good friend who lives two streets over who has generously offered her car to us whenever we need it, and occasionally we take her up on it, but for the most part, we hike/bike everywhere. 

What I didn't know at the time we got the bikes was how difficult it was to pull my daughter on her bike (which is attached to mine).  You get quite a workout, let me tell you.  Unfortunately, earlier this summer I pulled a muscle in my knee riding with her so I haven't ridden my bike since about mid-July.  So trips to the grocery store, etc. are made walking, usually pulling The Princess in her wagon.

Today was grocery shopping day.  Usually we go Friday morning but I slept in a bit  a long time yesterday so we went today.  We left at 8:45 am, got dog food, stopped for breakfast at McD's, then off to the store.  Shopped quickly (my husband had to get home to go to his part-time job), got home by 10:45 am, checked the weather...84°.  Turned on the pool pump and we are headed into the water to cool off after that leisurely  hot, sweaty 2.5 mile walk!

Paradise

I've wanted to live in the south ever since I was in high school and played in a softball tournament in Valdosta, Georgia.   I am a warm weather person.   I grew up in the midwest so I was used to cold but the older I got, the less I enjoyed the October-May time of year.  I was so depressed most of my life, especially during those long winter months of bitter cold and snow.   When summer time came, and temps were in the 80's and the sun shone all day, I always felt so much happier. But than fall and the rain came, then the cold and snow and I longed for a time where I could feel this summer-time happiness all year.

The Rest Of The Story -->

Economy is Improving?

"They" say the economy is improving. "They" say things are starting to turn around. We must be living in the wrong place. Things are not improving for us. Things are not turning around for us. My husband got word last week that there will be no shifts available for his job that make the 11% shift differential he has been making. His employer is offering the last shift to start at 2:45pm...15 minutes earlier than would qualify for this differential. So now, on top of not having any overtime for most of this year (our income is down about $1K a month because of this), my DH's regular paycheck is going to decrease as well.  Whoever "they" are, they must not live in where I do!

The Rest Of The Story -->

Prayer Requests

Often times I read of people who are in need of prayer, or who are requesting prayer for someone else.  I want to keep remembering them in prayer, but sometimes I forget.  I need to have a list to refer to so I'm going to keep a list here of those I know who need prayers.

If you have a prayer request, send me a message. Your request can be a graphic like those you see below, or I can add it to the text list below the graphics.  Either way, click the orange envelope (kontactR me) link in the "Send Me A Message" section at the top of the left column and send me your prayer request. Please make sure you have permission from the person you are listing for prayer that their information be included on my site. If you do not wish to have your name and/or blog/website listed, let me know that also in your request.

Please pray for:

1. Please pray for my brother-in-law and his family as they mourn the passing of his mother.
2. Please pray for my husband and our extended family as we mourn the passing of his father.
   
3. Please pray for Meaghan.  She has been diagnosed with Medulblastoma.  
   
4. Our finances. My husband's pay has gotten cut. We are grateful for both his jobs, but we are stretched very tight (as are many others, I know) and are believing that God will provide other financial opportunities.
   
5. Travel mercies for my son as he heads to New Zealand on Nov. 8th.  He will be spending several months there, returning to the U.S. next February. Please pray for his safety while he is in NZ as well. Thanks!

PRAISE REPORTS

1. Sweet Stellan, is the son of MckMama. He is currently in the PICU with re-occuring heart issues.  Stellan had successful heart surgery in Boston that has eradicated his heart issue!! Praise God for this healing!!

About Me

My name is Sharon and I am married to Nick, and mom to J, B & E (The Princess) and two fur-kids, Jake and Luke. J just graduated from college. B passed away at birth in December 2003 and lives in Heaven. E is our youngest and is four. We wish she could stay this age forever. You can read about E in my other blog, Our Life With The Princess.

I grew up in the upper mid-west but moved to Paradise in 2000 with my then 15 year old son. I met my husband on-line and eight months later he moved to Paradise so we could get married. I am an attachment parenting, gentle disciplining, home schooling, beach loving, warm weather living, bike riding, computer and internet addicted, web designing, SAHM. I enjoy sewing and baking. My daughter and I are having fun in the kitchen! I'm teaching myself PHP, JavaScript and MySQL. My husband and I are looking forward to fixing up our fixer-upper house. Most importantly, I am a child of God. I love the Lord, and am striving to be a woman of integrity and excellence and to teach my daughter to be the same.

Thanks for stopping by my blog. I hope you will feel free to comment (keep it clean though or I will have to delete your message) or to follow me on Twitter.

Thankful Thursday

If you'd like to participate in Thankful Thursday, head over to Sonya's blog and get the graphic and code and paste it into your post. Next write down five things you are thankful for this week. Finally, go back to Sonya's blog and link up with Mr. Linky. It's that easy!

So, here's my list:

1. I am thankful for my friend Tami.  She is such a blessing in my life;
   
2. I am thankful that even though my husband's pay is being cut, he at least still has both his full-time and part-time job;
   
3. I am thankful for God's grace and mercy every day, even though I know I don't deserve it;
4. I am thankful that my teaching preschool at home to my daughter is going so well.  She loves to learn and God is really bringing out the patience in me that I need;
   
5. I am thankful for old friends that I've reconnected with online.  It has been so nice to catch up on what has happened to us since we got out of high school 30 years ago!