Day #213

Thankful for so much today...finding Joy all around. 
My boss noticed my attitude change.

Was able to make 2 dinners tonight.  Made 2 zuchinni bakes and took one to Brad and Mindy for dinner and the other for luke and I.  Mike stopped by Luke's so he stayed for the second zuchinni bake...ALL brought to you by the Moine's...Joel brought us this HUGE zuchinni over the weekend. 

Luke and I made a "bucket" list together in January of things we wanted to do together this year.  I believe there are eight things on the list.  Tonight we did one...and it couldn't have been more perfect.  A moonlit walk.  Just so happened to be a Blue Moon!!!!

Day #212

Thankful to hear how God is working in the lives of the Life Group we belong to!  For me specifically it is that I have a choice everyday to chose Joy...work has been Miserable, with a Capital M...but I can chose to allow it to bring me down or not. 

Day #211

So thankful that Luke is forgiving...he has been working so much at the house and my task was to bring the dinner salad AND salad dressing...well let's just say we had spinach salad. 

Day #210

So, thankful for friendship.  Had a great evening after volleyball eating ice cream and talking about blind spots. 

Day #209

Spirt leads to Life
Flesh leads to Death

Seems so simple to write and to understand...so hard to put into action.  Church was powerful this am...Thankful for an Amazing Savior!

Had a fun time having cake and ice cream with my Dad for his birthday and a friendly game of Rook with Luke's Grandma and Grandpa and Uncle Jeff.  Lots of boasting from the one in last place who came from behind to steal victory from the jaws of defeat...haha.

Day #208

Joy in spending time with family and friends.  Energizing and blessed to have a great community!!
Luke's Uncles Jeff and Joel helped drywall the bathroom and lay subflooring...they did an awesome job!  My dad helped Luke wire and Greg did subflooring. 
Followed by a magical evening with some of our favorite peeps!!!

Day #207

Today I got to meet the newest Opsincs.  Bennet Kerrigan Opsincs...6 lbs 13 ozs a great big bundle of sweetness. 

Day #206

Joy in realizing it is okay to lay on your back with ice as someone else does the dishes...rough evening.  BUT We picked out paint!!!!

Day #205

Joy in seeing a friend and listening to her  share her engagement story and to look back on where she was a year ago....God is good!!!

Day #204

Today was calling hours and the funeral...Brad and I shared some of our childhood memories of Grandma and shared many laughs...from her slaying snakes into 6 pieces with a shovel, hedge trimmers, weedwacker, or a lawn mower...she hated snakes and her yard is filled with them!!!
She loved Golden girls, and jeopardy and we even had a contest for the miss USA pagent, grandma always guessed right.

We had pie baking contests...after we picked apples in the back yard.  As kids we got to add whatever we wanted in our little pie tins...

We picked elderberry/blackraspberry/apples/grapes/plums/and more...she had an amazing garden in a tiny spot that always flourished. 

I learned how to make lickva or prune pierogi something my grandad apparent missed from his home town. 

We learned to shuffle cards and play rummy from Grandma.

She was stubborn and very opinionated it but she had a very loyal love for her family!! 

Thankful for the fun memories.  2 corinthians 1:4

Day #203

Today Dad and I removed all my Grandma's stuff from the nursing home...Made a photo board for the funeral and we went blueberry picking.  Grandma loved picking berries. 
Thankful for the time together

Day #202

Thankful for our fireside devotional led by Mike and our hymn singing led by Bethany, Greg, and Luke.  This is what it is all about!!

Day #201

Camping...enough said!!!

Thankful for the fun time canoeing with Luke and hanging out with Greg and Mike!   God provides for our every need.  As we saw today with an unopened bottle of water, sunscreen, and pizza! 

Day #200

Today I had the privilege to be with my Grandma O as she took her last breath.  I went everyday to say "GoodBye" and today was the final Good Bye.  Glad i could be there with my Dad and Mom.  There is Joy in her life of 95 years...She was stubborn, and always shared her opinion...I learned as I got older it was just her way of showing Love. 

Day #199

Today it was difficult to realize that I physically can't do certain things...like carry the wood flooring inside the house.  But I realize that God can carry our burdens physical/emotional/spiritual...and I need it...God places people in our life to help us carry those burdens. Grateful!

Had a wonderful dinner...zuchnni was provided by the Fisters. 

Took dinner to my parents at the nursing home...Gma was having trouble breathing...won't be long hospice thinks it will be this weekend. 

Day #198

I really like my Tom's and I really like the guy who got them for me!!! 
Feeling blessed!!!

Day #197

Thankful for the opportunity to share what I believe...a personal relationship with the my Savior...that talking to God is freely done there are no specific prayers that need to be repeated. 

Day #196

Grandma's vitals are still really strong.  She is on some anxiety meds... but today  marks day #5 of no food and water.  Luke and I went to visit for awhile...it is hard to see her not respond.  But I was able to find some joy today in seeing the nurses and nurses aides and how much my Grandma has impacted them. 

Day #195

Thankful for a quiet day at the office...It is amazing how much work can be accomplished when I am not in meetings 85% of the day!!!

Day #194

Grateful for a dinner with my Mom and Dad.
My dad & mom have been by my grandma's side and it was nice to make him a home cooked meal and some homemade ice cream...with Malley's hotfudge!!!

Thankful for the reminder of God makes us into something beautiful...He holds the keys.

Flowers are at my grandma's house...now my house

Day #193

I had my first experience at the Hartville flea market.  Thankful for new experiences!!!  Grateful for family and the opportunity to celebrate little Ethan ' s 1st  Birthday!!! 

Day #192

Hard to find Joy in days like these.  My grandma had a seizure/stroke this afternoon.  She has not woken-up from it yet....and most likely will not.  Prayers for my grandma and for my Dad!!!

But I found joy this evening trying to clean up my room. 

Day #191

Date Night...there is Joy in date night...not because it doesn't happen often..but because we happen to make it joyful...it might help that we ate at Casa Del Rio!!

So thankful for Luke who went to the house and took out all the trash by himself. 

Day #190

Found Joy today in talking with a friend about the way God answers our prayers!!!

Day #189

There is Joy in an answer of No. Trusting God's plan when you don't get what you want is sometimes hard...today I felt peace that the answer was "No" about a job opportunity that I was looking forward too...excited to see what God has in store...

Day #188

Thankful for buoyancy...Had my second water therapy much better than normal PT. 

Day #187

Life is difficult.   I constantly fall short.  But God is Rich $$$ in Mercy.   Thankful that God doesn't require me to be perfect and that those around me realize we ALL fall short.  BUT we are in this together to support and encourage one another

Day #186

We worked hard today with some great friends.  Loved working with michelle and getting to know her.  We conquered insulating the bathroom!! 
Had a great picnic with everyone and bonfire afterwards.  My mom made some of her famous homemade pizza. 
Tiring but great day investing in people!!! 

Day #185

Went fishing today.  It was great to spend some time with my Daddy O who hasn't been in the best health. 
We didnt catch anything.  But had a great time...refreshing air, relaxing, and a beautiful day..right up till Luke got sea sick.    There were some 3 footers on Lake Erie later in the afternoon.  He was better once he got on land. 

Day #184

Thankful my parents who gave us some insulation and green drywall.  They also let me borrow their minivan to pick up some subflooring and drywall for the bathroom...fits perfectly in the back!!...
Thankful for the hardcore work out from 21 day fix extreme!!!

Day #183

Well with all the rain we weren't able to dig the footer drains.  But we were able to get some other things done.  Luke ran some electric.  Kristen and Josh removed baseboards.  Lisa removed and recycled the tile from the kitchen to use in the bathroom.  Joanna made the most amazing lunch!!! Thankful for all the help from our amazing teacher friends!! 

Day #182

Storage unit shrinking!! So thankful Joe and Mandy went shopping at my unit. :-) They bought my sectional, love seat, and refrigerator!! 

Day #181

Thankful for new experiences.  I tried water therapy for my back.  Thankful for  the new YMCA in North Royalton that will allow me to continue to do my exercises more then once a week...and it is Free!!!!  Not sure the therapy will work but worth a try.