T is for Time Out!

Welcome to my contribution to Ms. Jenny and Alphabe Thursday! I have had a couple of tough weeks so I could think of a dozen words that would fit my "T" time post to a "T", instead of complaining and shedding tears I will try to share more happy contributions today!  I do want to ask you upfront to please pray for the following families: the Rocha Ramirez family will bury their three year old son Ritchie this weekend. He was going to the store with his family to get a new ball last Friday and he ran from the car and was hit by a truck driving in the shopping center. The sadness of this story is two families are hurting, Ritchie's two brothers witnessed it with his folks and they will forever remember seeing their baby brother dying in front of their eyes. The driver was traveling within the law in a shopping center and it was simply a very tragic accident that has altered these two families lives forever. Our oldest daughter has a very dear friend Libby who lost her fifty two year old daughter a few weeks ago. Mary, like her late father, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Her husband put her in an assisted living home immediately and she passed away after only suffering from the disease for a few short months. Libby is really hurting and your prayers and warm thoughts are greatly needed. My dear friend Kathy lost her younger brother Michael last week. The family has asked for privacy regarding their loss and Kathy will talk with us when she feels the time is right. Many prayers for the O'Gane family would be greatly appreciated. Kathy and her younger sister Marlene care for their own sweet mama with Alzheimer's. The Castillo family is hurting over the SIDS death of their son Kolya who would have turned seven months old on March 29th. Please remember all these families and pray.

So it is time for a time out! Sigh!  Time to enjoy some baseball! Stop and smell the spring time flowers . Today is the birthday of one of my childhood favorites, Doris Day! I heard on the radio that she is 89 years old but her bio lists her as 91! As a kid I knew all her favorite songs like "Que Sera Sera" and "You Are My Sunshine". She was sweet and squeaky clean and I still adore her movies. Yet her personal life was plagued with troubled marriages and much sadness. She lives in Carmel-by-sea and has been an animal activist for many years. There is a local radio station where she lives who plays her songs on her birthday and she calls in to thank them! She is a first class lady! Happy Birthday Doris Day!

With all the crazy events going on in our world today it is a good time to take a time out and reflect on what is truly important. For me it is ultimate faith. Without it I really don't know what would happen to me. I am forever grateful for my lifelong faith and the solid hard working way I was raised by wonderful parents. It carried over into my marriage. Daily I am surrounded by people that have lots of things. But they do not have the kind of love and support that I share with my hubby who will celebrate twenty nine years of marriage with me next month. Although the simple plans we had will have to be put aside we still have each other and really, it is what is truly important. Our youngest daughter was in a traffic accident today. Although her hood is crumpled she is safe. She will have to be in court on May 1st and so we don't know what kind of fine she will have to pay. So no anniversary celebration this year!

Here is our front yard. Drat that ole cottonwood tree! Do you know what it is good for? Allergies! Instead they had to take out our pretty Choke Cherry tree:

That tree was a pain in the fall when all the cherries fell to the ground, the ones the birds left behind. But in the springtime it was exceptionally beautiful, blooming lovely pink blossoms! But this work is very costly and hurting our budget beyond repair! But it is a true necessity and without this main line repair we would be without water and the ability to use our bathrooms, the washer, the sink and dishwasher. So it is something that has to be done !

So now I need a time out to think about how we can rebuild our savings and pay this debt off quickly.

To give anything less than your best, is to sacrifice the gift.

Steve Prefontaine

Nick ran in a track and field event at his college this weekend.He took second in both the 5k and the 1500. Please pray for Nick and his team mates as they head to an event out of state this Friday and Saturday! I just could not resist tossing in another "T" as in track and field!

Goodnight!