20th Wedding Anniversary

Today is our 20^th wedding anniversary. We’ve come a long way to get here. We’ve had lots of ups and downs. Our marriage has helped to define me, and teach me character, and forgiveness, and love. We’ve had our struggles, and we’ve had our joys.

I find it odd that the symbol for the 20th wedding anniversary is china (traditional) and platinum (modern). To me, these are opposite items. One is fragile, one is strong. Humm... I suppose it is not so odd. I think, in fact, that it is appropriate, since these are two of the qualities in a marriage, being fragile and being strong.

I am happy that it is my 20th anniversary today.

I’m going for a walk

One of my 2012 goals is to take our dog for a walk, 52 times this year. It’s a multi-purpose goal. So far, I have done only two walks.

Our dog, Sam, LOVES to go for walks and I have really dropped the ball in this area. She is a much happier, and healthier, dog when she gets to go for walks. I felt making this goal would be good for her. Sam will be 5 years old next week, her birthday is 01Feb2007. If I say “walk”, Sam goes to the door.  

This goal is also good for me. I need more exercise. I complain about my weight, yet I have done nothing about it. I think going for walks is a great start and I hope the walking will lead to more exercise for me. I have also set myself another goal of participating (walking) in the Hornet Hustle 5K in August. I want to improve my time from last year. I was disappointed in myself when I saw this photo of me with my granddaughters (taken last week).

I am now using the “Nike+ gps” app on my phone. It pushes posts to my FaceBook timeline about how long and how fast my walks are. I am hopeful that these public posts will motivate me to be consistent, walk farther, walk faster, and to do more. A few of my FaceBook friends have agreed to hold me accountable, and to encourage me. When my statistics are posted on the internet for all to see, it really makes me want to do a bit more! Lol.

I listen to audiobooks when I walk. I have not made time to read books in recent years, and listening to unabridged audiobooks is very enjoyable to me. I have just downloaded a new audiobook “The Wedding Quilt” by Jennifer Chiaverini. I highly recommend her Elm Creek Quilt series. I have listened to ALL of the audiobooks in this series except the Wedding Quilt and I am looking forward to this book, and saddened that there are no more to download… yet!  I am hopeful that listening to audiobooks will encourage me to read actual books again. I have always loved to read, but five years ago I created a mental block about reading, and I am trying to make myself re-wire my thinking and get back into reading. My oldest son and his wife gave me a Kindle for Christmas and I am going to use that as well.

Walking will allow me to connect with the outside world. I often stay inside my house for days at a time. Walking will get me out of the house, maybe meet some neighbors, observe the beautiful nature around me, get fresh air, bond with our dog, and so forth. The benefits of walking my dog definitely out weigh just sitting on my couch, typing on my computer… humm… So I guess it is time to get up, get ready, and go for my walk. It is only 21° this morning so I’d better bundle up! 

What a WONDERFUL visit!

Jim’s daughter Jessica and her husband Joe, along with their triplet daughters, just left after their extended weekend visit at our home here in Kansas for our Christmas. It was such a wonderful weekend! I’m sad that it is over.

The triplets are now 16 months old. They are exploring their world around them. They aren’t walking yet, but anyone can see that they will be walking any day now. They are such good babies. They rarely fuss, they share, they are cuddly, they have great smiles, and joyful personalities. I love seeing how much they love their mommy and daddy, and how much their mom and dad love each of them.

While they were here visiting here with us, we had annual photos taken. Getting Christmas photos is a tradition that we just started last year.  I hope this is something we will continue to do for years and years to come. It is so fun to look back at last year’s photo and see the miraculous growth in each of the girls. Here are the girls photos from this year (Jan2012), and last year (Jan2011). Can you tell them apart? lol 

We have not yet seen all of the photos from the photo shoot. We’ve only seen the sneak-peek. We absolutely loved J Mason Photography in Wichita Kansas that took the photos for us. These are my personal favorites (so far).

I know how busy Jessica and Joe are, and it was such a blessing that they loaded up their three babies and drove six hours to visit us. I know how much work a road trip can be; and I truly appreciate their efforts. I hope that trips to grandpa and grandma’s house will become lasting memories for the grandkids.

I miss them already. I am SOOO looking forward to seeing the kiddo’s in person in the late spring/early summer 2012. Skyping is great, but in person is so much better. :)

I hope ALL the grandkids know, or will learn, just how much we love them. <3