My Best Friend

The house pictured here is ours. The flower beds were the first ones that "we" actually planted. Gardening is one of my hobbies that I use to escape from the world. In our front and back yard there have been beautiful flowers and blooming trees that were already there from before we moved in. We have been here 10 years. In 2005 we decided to do some D.I.Y. upgraded landscaping in the front yard. We went to a small local garden center and picked out around a 140 plants some individual and some in six packs. I was supposed be in charge of planting them but I got really sick with respiratory problems. It took all of my energy and the plants just stayed in their six packs and pots for weeks. So one day Matt took a lawn chair to the front yard, sat me in it and said tell me where you would like the flowers planted. He planted every last one for me. It ended up being very beautiful and a huge blessing because I stayed sick off and on throughout the summer. The flowers bloomed like crazy and attracted all sorts of butterflies, birds, bees, and very colorful moths too. I was able to sit on my front steps and enjoy the whole world right there in my flower garden. My husband Matt is definitely my best friend.

Good Afternoon, Good Evening, and Good Night

Do you have a person in your neighborhood who you love to visit with every time that you run into them. Many years ago I had an admin position at a brokerage firm. Before 9/11 and around the time of all of the bank and brokerage mergers. I was one of the first to get laid off, best thing that ever happened to me. Anyhow the point of my story is that one of my regular customers from the brokerage was a distinguished older gentleman. He is one of those people who just lights up a room. He lives about two blocks from my house and I frequently run into him. I could listen to him tell stories for hours. I live in a fairly populated area where it isn't really like Malta or any other small country town. People keep to themselves and keep extremely busy. Months or even years can go by and you can lose yourself not to mention your friends. But I always seem to run into this gentleman. I suppose it would be great to have him over for dinner once in awhile too. He lost his wife a few years back, so I believe that the next thing I will do during a reasonable hour is give him a call and invite him. Why would I have to move back to Malta to get that small town hospitality. That is where I grew up and what I used to know. It's time to start living like that right where I am.

Joy Peace and more Coffee!

Today my sister took all of us to the Virginia Zoo http://www.virginiazoo.org/ . Even though I have lived here almost 17 years that was one place that I had never been. It was pretty cool too. Family outings are great, it is so much better than just sitting at home.

Ranota is going to the Riverside Hospital Nursing School for the LPN program. For more than 10 years now she has worked at the nursing home in Malta and as a volunteer EMT for Phillips County. She has done a lot of amazing work with her patients. The work she does I would not be cut out for. Her plans are to go on to RN then MD and work in an Emergency Room. I have no doubt that she will accomplish her goals.

I continue to be amazed the last couple of weeks at how much more I am getting done since my family has been living with us. Ranota, Jerrit, and Brady, moved in with us on July 8th. Matt and I have not had kids yet. I have been alone a lot because for over half of our 14 years marriage my husband has worked either 2nd or 3rd shift. Being alone does some weird things to your head. So having a house full of people I love and want to help take care of has been really great. I know after many years of over analyzing myself that I was meant to take care of people. I love being a wife, look forward to being a mom, and love what I am doing now with my sister and nephews. When I have people to take care of I get more done, sleep better, think less, and have so much more joy and peace in my life. Hopefully within the next couple of years we will have babies or adopt some. For those of you who may not know or remember my parents Karl and Jan adopted me when I was 5 weeks old.

And of course with all of this going I you know I definitely need my coffee :)

Finally Blogging

Hello Everyone,

I will make this quick as I am at work. I didn't know what to choose for my blog name or URL so I chose coffee. Other that my spiritual life coffee gets me through everyday. And if you think about it who made the coffee bean...hmmm? With as much coffee as I consume, I really am full of coffee beans.

What gets you through everyday?

Ciao For Now
Onnie