Celebration!

Last night my son and daughter-in-law took us to Wasabi  Sushi Japanese Restaurant for dinner.  It was fun and the food was great!

Jasper loved seeing them cook the food.   In preparation the chef would ignite a fire in front of us and whhoooosh the fire jumped high into the air and then the chef prepared the stir fry of rice, veggies, chicken and shrimp.   He would then go around the bar filling our plates with whatever it was that we ordered.  The finished product was so very tasty!

It was Jessica's birthday dinner, and so they brought out a big sparkler and a dessert with a candle in the middle.

No coffee for me in the AM till I go to the hospital and get some blood drawn.  Getting ready for gallbladder surgery on Wednesday.

I've been trying to stay away from junk food that makes me feel bad.  Cake is my weakness, so this was really hard to resist though:  Hostess Cupcakes (sold at an antique mart we visited on Friday) for only $2.50!!  What a deal!  And check out the sell by date on the bottom right hand corner.  Only five months out.  I know. Hard to pass up!

Joy

Each year of my life I recognize more and more how drama and negativity need to become

a thing of the past.

Concentrating on all that is good will bring peace.   

This time of year I begin to plan for the years good stuff.  The vacations.  The family time together.  

It keeps me sane through the gray days that threaten to steal my joy.

So, I have our beach condo's reserved for August.  It will be a little different this year.  Some who were there last year will not be returning.  But new faces will take the place of old ones.  We had a blast last year and hope for more of the same.

We never know what life will bring.  But we can be sure that it will be full of surprises.  Last year I lost my brother to cancer in January and then in December I lost my sister to kidney failure.   I was alone with my sister when she died.  Words could not describe my grief.  But, life goes on.    

Life can be crippling at times but after the storm comes the rainbow.  The good stuff.  Like watching the sun rise and set over the sea.  Breathing in the warm ocean air.  Laughing so hard that I cry.  Playing silly games with my grandchildren.  Sharing in life with my husband and my kids.  Being still and feeling God's presence.  

There is no doubt that my life's journey will include more loss and sadness and I try to mentally prepare for this.   Sometimes....  Many times...  I have to close my eyes and say, "God, change my heart that I can sweep life's bitter, empty nothingness under the rug...  and I can live my life experiencing Your joy."   And in time, he does just that.

Can You Hear Me Now?

I'm trying some new stuff for my business.  Google Ad Words.  I find this to be very complicated but every day I try to learn more.  I finally have it set so when (in our area) hearing aids are clicked on my business is generally right on top.  It's tough.  There is a lot of competition here.  On National Highway alone there are 3 other hearing aid businesses within miles of one another.  

This July will start our sixth year.  Even though Gary has retired, I still say 'our' because he will pitch in and help when needed.  He's good like that.

We get a lot of referrals from satisfied customers.  We also have many customers because of the big gold ear in our front yard.  This year our 'ear guy' is going to carve us a new ear.  It's time.

Business is good and we beat all competition in pricing.  I love working with the elderly (mostly).   Servicing their hearing aids and sometimes just counseling them on how to use them or what to expect.  Today one of my customers hugged me tight before she left and said, "I love coming here.  You are not only my hearing aid provider...  you have become such a good friend as well."

This is going to be another great year.  January, which is usually quite slow,  has been very prosperous!

Come on over to ALL ABOUT HEARING and check us out!   My web page is not perfect...  but I did it myself and I change it around a lot.  I get a fair amount of business from it.

Hey, Phil says spring is just around the corner!  Are you as ready as I am??

Ready for It?

Regardless of what that groundhog sees when he pulls himself from his little cubbyhole next week...  shadow or not... 

The calendar says that the following month will be spring.  

Are you ready for it?

Summer and Rissi and....  AND I'd like to Introduce to you my new granddog Ellie May.  

Snowy Sunday

Snow.  

It can bring out the best....

And it can bring out the worst...  

"Where's my potty???"

"What are you looking at?  Haven't you ever seen a dog look for a place to go potty before?"

"I don't get mad...  I get even..."

Disappointing

I'm supposed to be in Nashville.  The trip was planned well in advance.  It would be a fun time.  A time of learning.  Of getting CEU's.  Of eating good food and visiting fun places.  

My bags were packed (well, in my head) and a sign was ready for the door.  I even printed out directions and had calculated in my head how I'd be spending every single minute of my trip after downloading Siemens agenda on my iPhone.

But.  The snow came.  The trip was cancelled.  And I have swore off making any plans again in the dead of winter.

Hope everyone is staying safe and warm!

HELP!

Business is booming.  Who would have thought January would bring so many people in to get hearing help?  And speaking of help...  it was going on four o'clock the other day, and I looked out my office door to find a sight to behold!  A snow squall that covered the ground and looked like it would be a big 'un.   My survival mode kicked in and I did the first thing that came to mind. 

I wrote in that virgin snow...  for all the world to see....  exactly what I was thinking.   

Now how many days till spring?