Happy Birthday Treats

It's my birthday today. I know, it is not a Wednesday, but I worked yesterday in exchange to today's whole day off. Aside from I-am-still-sick-with-a-cold, and I need a break from wearing a mask, I deserve a day off on my day. That is why I am late posting in ABC Wednesday.

I'd Like To Thank

Well, it's the awards night tonight. So, I'd like to thank a few people and things that supported me through my shopping, eating, and studying habits.

Gizmo and Everything Good

Join us.This week's letter is the letter G.

Monday Pet Day

I have Wally, Paul's Border Collie, 100% for a week as Paul is out-of-state, so I got to take more pictures of him. We have this new water fountain that he would not get near off for the first day I have him. My daughter wanted to get him a separate bowl so he could drink.

"He will die of thirst, mom."

"No, he won't."

Soon enough, I caught him putting his head down, gulp, gulp, gulp he went for a long time. He was thirsty all right.

Enough shots with Wally, so I called brown Velvet for a picture, and girl, she came so closely. LOL.

Happy Monday you all.

Tribute

I just came from a whole day of tribute to a dear friend's husband. 

Green and Red Friday

Can you guess which bunch is given and which flowers are bought?

Fish Fire

I have been checking (and have purchased) planners lately. Most of them I liked but not fully. There was always some parts I do not like that I think is a waste of space. I want to keep my planner small that fits in my everyday bag that is suitable for two small books like A5 size.

I like the idea of bullet journal and Rituals, among a few, so I decided to make my own. Even the pages on Moleskine, I did not like because they are so faint, I have to squint my eyes to see the numbers. Maybe I need glasses too, but that's another story. I dated a hardcover notebook I purchased from Walmart. I also got some stickers, erasable pens, markers, and highlighters. Wallah, I have a planner/journal with the table of contents and pages I will use. I am happy.

I love the looks of fish growing up by the big pond, and I am Pisces, so I attached a fish on the bookmark. The whole thing makes me smile.

What also makes me grin is the city cleaning up the homeless tent in at the back of my house, not too far away. It is owned by the city, and I did not realize till lately, I can just report my concern thru the city app. In the same week, here they are. They are so fast, I did not get a picture of the John Deere thingy, hauling the stuff away. I now have a better view from the dining room where I sit and write.

See, a many years ago, there was a fire there, and the fire department had to be called to kill the fire. It was thought that the camper's fire  got out of control. A distant neighbor reported it as we slept. He lived eight houses away. It was late at night then, and my young family did not have a clue. It gave us a scare we thought we had to evacuate. The area is close to the main road but in a valley form area that is hard to see by others except by my next door neighbor and me.

To make me feel less guilty, the city reported that it appears that the camp had been abandoned. I did not displace anyone. Nobody had been sleeping there lately. Whoever the person was, I hope he or she has found a safer and warmer home this winter.

Well, those are my F's for the week. What's yours?

Join us!

Velvet Upset

I did not walk her first thing in the morning because of early commitment,
so I got home and this is how she looked.
No welcome for me.
(Poor Velvet . . . and giraffe).

Little Miracles

Miracles surround us.

1. Life is a series of thousands of tiny miracles. Notice them.

I was reminded of this quote last night as I watched Netflix series with my daughter, A series of Unfortunate Events, where three children got put in the custody of their undesirable uncle after the death of their wealthy parents in a fire.

"At least we have a home."

But it is one of those scary looking witch-house, dark, messy, and dirty inside. The siblings shared a small bed in the attic, and they have to do a very long list of chores in this house daily.

Well, they have a helpful neighbor that takes them to a store and lets them borrow the home library. (The older siblings love books). Anyway, the show is based on fiction books of the same title. It is unreal, and a lot of times, ridiculous.

It is still synonymous with real life. Sometimes change can be so drastically absurd. But each day we live, tiny miracles are happening. We just have to notice them.

Read, for example, my tiny miracles that follow.

Getting Education Early

I am sitting in the class with my third helping of breakfast and third cup of coffee.

Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today. --Malcolm X 

I had small talks with my son recently who just turned 18. He is on his last year of high school. I was wondering why he has not started looking for colleges yet.



"I want to take a whole year break from school to work and save up for a car."



In a program where he is now, he can possibly get assistance for housing up to a year. I don't know the details of this but I told him that I see this as a waste of his time. He can just stay home rent-free and concentrate on college. Working part-time can just be extra and not required to pay for necessities. I am not trying to make him stay under my wings forever but I do want to help him succeed as early and as least painful it is to him.

Smiling and Feeling Grateful

"Nobody can be uncheered with balloons." -- Winnie the Pooh

1. I have no balloons this week, but I have this smile throw pillow to borrow during family therapy with my son. The pillow is always there when we have our session. It makes the session easier, at least, it is comfy as I have it on my lap, resting my elbows. It gives me comfort. I am thankful for little things like that.

2. I am always thankful for the healthy food I enjoyed while Paul is out-of-state. No calorie-laden (but an oh-so-delicious gigantic platter of eggs benedict++) this weekend. I had, instead, an all-you-can-eat salad at Red Robins.

My Daughter and Our Dogs

I got up and did my routine chores on a Saturday morning. My seventeen-year-old daughter appeared only to use the bathroom, then back to her bedroom she went. I had to call her to come back out and eat something and take her medication. She did. Her phone rang a couple of times for the few minutes she was with me. Again, she left and went back into the room.

Charity and The Garden of Gods

Garden of Gods is one on the natural resources gifted by a man for all to enjoy. Once owned by Perkins, he donated this slice of heaven to the City of Colorado Springs in a condition that it remains free for all to visit. Look at my daughter proud of her climb and what a beauty this gift for all brings.

The alphabet this week is the letter C. What words inspire you to write? Today, I am thinking of:

1. Charity
2. Climb
3. Can
4. Church
5. Choosing
6. Changes
7. Choice
8. Charity Miles
9. Child
10. Contribution

This statement from church sticks to my mind this week. God wants us to want what he wants.

Is that like I want my teens to want what I want not simply do what I say without putting their heart into it? You betcha.

I'd like them to do good for themselves, nourish, not harm--their brain, body, and soul. I'd like them to put focus in school and pick good friends. I'd like them to be, someday, self-sufficient, and be helpful members of the society.

God wants us to helps ourselves so we can be of help to others. God wants us to be generous. It's only last Saturday, that I was convinced I should give more to charity and church. The right time in my definition will never come as I would probably never be satisfied with my income and expenses. But God wants me to give to others. In my preference, it would be to the church I currently go to, and the rest to a charity of my choosing (that changes from day to day).

I realize I do not have enough for my family yet to give ten percent but I deduct things like taxes, and my walking miles and photos I posted that is equivalent to a dollar a day. I also deduct loss income/support as my ex-husband fails to pay the minimum court-mandated child support since he left. My effort for walking and/or posting pictures in exchange to mentioning my donor pays the charity of my choice. Check Charity Miles and Donate a Photo.

My yearly contribution that I set up as a bimonthly deduction from my debit card still does not go over three digits but this is the most donation yet I have given in my life. And it feels great.

Deuteronomy 16:17 – "Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which He has given you."