Oh....to be Chinese!!!

Today is the Chinese New Year!!!  And I think we should celebrate!!!!  Sounds awesome!!! Here is what it entails....

The new year is by far the most important festival of the Chinese lunar calendar. It is celebrated on the second new Moon after the winter solstice. The holiday is a time of renewal, with debts cleared, new clothes bought, shops and homes decorated, and families gathered for a reunion dinner. Chinese New Year is marked by fireworks, traditional lion dances, gift giving, and special foods.

Dylan and Maddie when we got my van new... watching a movie!

I am so excited this morning!  Our van is paid off!!! It is ours! We owe nothing on any vehicles! Praise God!!!  But this is still a very rough month financially... without my income and Walmart. Just trusting God to see us through and looking forward to top ramen and pancakes. But the van is paid off.  When we bought the van it was to drive grandkids around. I was taking care of Lauren and Maddie and picking Andrew up from school every day and I didn't have the room in the car I had. Plus when I had Dylan it was even more crowded.  This van has been wonderful. It has driven the grandkids around, Ms. Mary, my mama, and my dad for a brief time. It took us and Karla's family to the zoo, it took us and Ryan's family to Porter's BBQ, I grieved in it, laughed in it and had some road rage in it!  I love my van and thank God for it!

The only picture I could find of my van while looking at the house for sale... that we bought!

Dave called me yesterday (my ex).  He is doing really well!!! Amazing good!  He said he should be a text case for how great it could go!  I said..."You know why don't you?" He said "Why"... I said "The power of prayer....you had people praying all over this country!!!!" He said "Aw, Joyce, you know I don't subscribe to that way of thinking" I said... "Well, you should think about it. You should be a dead man and you're not."  He doesn't realize God still has a plan for his life and I cannot wait to see what it is!  We talked about how after surgery the doc told him he probably would have died within a few days had he not had the surgery... that is how bad his valve was!!!  I, personally, see God's hand here!  We talked for quite awhile.  After we finished I updated Kevon on how his dad is doing and we talked a bit.  I pray someday they reconcile.  I pray a lot.  In God's time.  I thought this would have done it but I guess not.

Yesterday I did a lot! I watched a hoarders show and that is all it takes. I started cleaning... cleaned my bathroom; the walls and mirrors and stuff, went into the den and moved the tv and emptied the bookshelf in our room that threatens to kill papa in his sleep if it fell... and put it in the den and put the video's, dvd's, and video games on the shelves.... dusted and rearranged pictures.... and tossed out some videos and dvd's!!!  Wow!  Did lots of stuff.  Found stuff I thought I lost.... threw most of it out since I haven't needed it this long! Felt good!

Today I am taking a house break and picking up Lois. We are meeting Libby at mom's and all going to the doctor appt with mom.  Mom will have all her girls together today which will thrill her!  Looking forward to the day! I love my family!!!!

Papa is off tomorrow.  Yay!!!!  He can go to the store with me.  Well, that's all I got... looking around my area to see if I forgot anything... but I think I said it all!  Have a great day... a God day and I want to leave you with this:

No shadow.... come on Spring!!!!

Punxsutawney Phil, the world's most famous groundhog, is forecasting an early spring. He did not see his shadow on this Groundhog Day. For us here in Western Washington, today will feel a little spring-like with more sunshine on the way!!! We will stay today with a mix of sun and high level clouds. While the sun may make it look like spring, today's temperatures are a reminder that we are still in winter. It's a cold start this morning with 20s and 30s as you get out the door. Look for high temperatures in the mid 40s this afternoon.
Showers entering on Thursday with temperatures in the upper 40s. Showers continue Friday and Saturday before we dry back out again on Sunday afternoon.

Today is my nieces birthday!!! Want to give a shout out to Vicky!!! Love you lots!

And a happy anniversary to Roger and Karla (Joel's parents... Maddie and Dylan's grandparents too!

Roger and Karla.... super nice people! Pray for many years to come!

Yesterday I just took Lauren to school.  We stopped at Striebels to get her lunch. We had a turkey sandwich with cheese, mustard and mayo on wheat made for her lunch and she got a juice and chips. Happy camper.  Came home and cleaned a bit. The dining room table is a never ending job. Caught up some on shows. My sis called again and we talked.  I think today is basically the same thing.  I am staying home and cleaning. Tomorrow I will be busy.

Papa's day was ok.  He ate lunch out in the car by himself. The job is only until Friday. Then they have to find another place for him. I thought it was longer.  He got a $40 paycheck from Walmart. I won't get any money. Praying!!!!


Well, I will post pictures and say
Sayonara
Auf Wiedersehen
Arrivederci
Au Revoir
Adios
Shalom
Zai Jian
Hasta La Vista
Ha det.........

to you all!
You get a star if you can tell me what I am saying.... a mention on my post if you know every language... without cheating!  It can be tricky!

MEMORY PHOTO:

Patrick and Jordy 11 years ago today!!!

BLOOD SUCKERS / PAPA'S GOT A BRAND NEW BAG

 It is a cold Tuesday morning.  Lauren spent the night and I get to take her to school! That is the only plan I have for the day.  It should be a good day.

DAY WITH MOM!
Yesterday I went and picked up my mom. It was cold yesterday too. I had the heat blowing all over me and was barely warm when I got to her place which is about 16 miles away. I took her down to get her blood drawn.  It is like a 3 room office... the waiting room, the bathroom, and the office/blood room. I waited in the waiting room and I could hear the problems she was having finding a vein on my mom. The office was so small you could hear every thing. Two women came in and sat down. One started rocking and crying and plugging her ears while the other caressed her. Hmmmm.... lesbians.  A frightened one to boot. Finally I said... would she do better waiting in the car? They agreed and she went out to the car, after kissing the other goodbye.  Next I hear the phlebotomist say "Well, lets try the other arm." My radar goes up... I go back (well, about 8 steps) and stop her! She CANNOT have anything done to her right arm!!!! Mom knows that!!!! But she was thinking that they cannot do blood pressure readings on her right.... I had to remind her no tourniquet, no blood draw, no NOTHING!!! She has a fistula on her right arm. I would think that when mom told her she had one... the blood sucker (as dad called them) would have known that arm was not an option. Oh well. Got it done in the left arm and we left. I tried to calm the needle phobic lady down as we left and she got out of her car to go in. She was really afraid. Good luck Ms. Phlebotomist.  Another fun draw!
Next we went up to Walmart and she did some shopping. When we were walking out she was looking and acting visibly tired! So I went and got the van. We went to Dairy Queen next and picked up a 4 piece chicken strip basket we split and she got a small blizzard. We ate at her house... shared a nice lunch at her table and looked at the beautiful mountains and talked. I love those moments with my mama. After lunch I left... she was tired. My heel hurt.

Came home and Libby called. We talked for a long time! It has been a while since we talked. Plus I talked to Lois too.  I truly love my sisters!!! I love my family and am so grateful for them!  Had a quiet evening and Lauren came over and the rest is history! 

PAPA'S NEW JOB:
Pray for papa... he is heading over to Keyport (other sub base) to work.... he will be doing inventory. He is not happy whenever he has to do something new. This will be his new job for however long. I pray he goes in with a positive heart and enjoys his day!!!

I hope you had a good day. Enjoy my pictures....

 MY MEMORY PHOTO:

Our baby Joshua taken February 1, 2005

MY FUNNY FOR THE DAY!

OUR WEATHER

Skies stay mostly sunny Tuesday and Wednesday with high temperatures in the mid 40s. Thursday stays dry with increasing clouds before showers return on Friday.

Thank you God!!!!