Growing Old Togetther

      Today, I walked in Bernal Heights, San Francisco, CA for my morning walk.  Trekking up the high mountain felt invigorating and like a breath of fresh air.  I encountered many dogs on the walking trail with their owners, people of all ages and walks of life, and the cutest couple I had ever seen.  Why my eyes were drawn to them, was their age, they were holding hands, smiling, and most importantly said, "Good Morning" as I passed by. 

     I thought of my dad, whose life is resounding in me in such a great way.  I thought of the gift of health, life and vitality and that a life gone, can never be regained but a life lived can be recreated day by day.  I have an opportunity to live my life each day for the benefit of others, celebrating the gift I have to begin anew each day.  New mercies are new each day. 

     So growing old together allows for a meshing of two personalities, sharing of dreams and fears, and a new beginning everyday.  I have this opportunity with my husband, to grow together, older, better, less cynical, with lots of joys and memories.  GrowingOldTogether, it's the simple things things that make the difference.

My Dad, His Legacy

 

A good laugh is like medicine.  My dad had the coolest laugh.  He would make you smile just listening to him tell a story, and laugh at the punchline before he even made it to it.  It's simple things like this that I'll miss the most. 

On Thursday, February 17, 2011 we celebrated the life of Albert Terrell Sanders, my dad.  As we process his life, this blog is the beginning of telling his story, capturing the essence of his life and continuing his legacy.  Simple memories, and simple times cause me to smile, cry, and laugh.  A great man, a greater story of searching for the meaning of life, and of epitomizing community at it's best.  This is my dad, my friend, and my confidant. 

Just Begin!

The key to getting things done is to Just Begin!  Starting is half the journey.  This is my second blog of the year, and this year I plan to write, write, and write again.  I asked Ali Edwards how she posted so many blogs and she said, just start and pretty soon you see how far you've come. 

This picture captures my January post on my start as a quilter.

Quilting Through the Generations

A year ago this month, I attended the Oklahoma City Winter Quilt Show at the Cox Convention Center, and happened upon the booth of the Oklahoma City Community Quilt Guild and a passionate woman named Beverly Kirk.  This meeting has rekindled a love for quilting, that began as a little girl in the home of my great-grandmother Amanda Winslow.  In her home, I learned the simple art of hand-quilting with scraps of fabrics and held on to those moments through adulthood.

 

This year I completed several projects with the support of the Oklahoma City Community Quilt Guild  members.  As a beginning quilter, I feel quite accomplished at the break of a new year of quilting experiences.  Here are my completed works for 2010:

•  Swing Purse
• Wall Hanging
• Red & White Nine-patch - "Family Picnic"
• Table Runner - 4th of July
• Log Cabin Quilt - "On Golden Pond"
• Tool pocket Organizer
• Savage Quilter -Challenge Quilt Project
• Dr. Suess Lap Quilt

 
Come join us for a New Year at the Oklahoma City Winter Quilt Show  this year and learn new techniques, reawaken passion for quilting and the arts, and just for fun.

Authentic Living in 2011

What I Know For Sure......

Here are some things that I have learned, over the past 43 years that I'm certain of, without a doubt!
What I know for sure........

1. Jesus is Lord! My personal relationship with my Saviour Jesus Christ has sustained me, encouraged me, and challenged me to become a true witness of his grace, mercy and love. This is my source of inspiration. "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." Colossians 3:1, 2 KJV
2. Family is the beginning of all things. In the safety and security of the home, family is nurtured, developed, and created. My hope is that the home is always a place that is safe, where individuals can continually grow and be nurtured.
3. Compromise causes loss. In the end when we compromise our beliefs, our passions, our dreams, ourselves we loose, and those around us miss out on the best of who we are. Know in whom you believe and don't let anyone persuade you to move from a place of strength and vitality.

What I know for sure.......

A Week in My Life - Day 1 - Monday, April 19, 2010

Well, I am meeting the challenge of the Ali Edwards, Week in my life. It's the first day, and I've taken pictures and I am now documenting my day so far.

Morning
1:00am - Went to Sleep
(While I was sleeping in,.....Ramsey was up with Jeremiah at 5am, playing and laughing, changing his diaper,and giving him a bottle or two. One at 5:30am and one at 7:30am, when I got up. Jason had eaten his waffle and strawberries and milk by 7:30am as well. Thanks Dad for the extra hand today.)
7:30am - Awake! Head straight to the shower, for a long hot 20 minute shower, since Ramsey was off work today. I even got to wash my hair. Woo Hoo! What a great start of the day. Went into living room to say good morning to Jeremiah, who just laughed and kicked his feet. Jason had already come bed side to climb in bed with me, and get me up. Thanks Jason. Oh a good morning kiss, from my hubby too!
7:50am - Get dressed, that's simple because I'm headed to the gym after I drop off the boys at childcare. Iron clothes for each of us. Jason's dressed, Mom is dressed, and daddy is dressing Jeremiah. Good work!
Now, the needs of the day: Make 4 bottle's for Jeremiah to take to Honeygram's Childcare. He'll drink three, and have one for the 5pm feeding at home already to drink. Give Jason his Zyrtec and nose spray. It's key in preventing a flare up of his allergies during this season. Jason washes his face, brushes his teeth, while I comb my hair, put on contacts, and brush my teeth. Done! Next stop the car.
8:30am - Loading the car for the day, Jeremiah's diaper bag, bottles by the door, so I can grab them on the way out and not forget them in the refrigerator, my laptop computer bag, my purse, and a bag of healthy snacks for the day.

To start my pictures of the day, I took a picture of my white Iris that greeted me as I walked out of the door. "Good Morning, Kelly", it sang.

8:50am - Jason loaded in car, Jeremiah all buckled in, and we're off to Honeygram's childcare for dropoff.
9:00am - Arrive at Honeygrams' signed in kids, put bottles in refrigerator, and unbuckled Jeremiah to hand him to Honeygram. Chat a little bit and update Honeygram on the weekend's actvitiy, and about the boys. Said goodbye to them both, and head to the gym.

9:15am - Stop by McDonald's for a sausage biscuit and hash brown, for some energy to workout.

9:30am - Head to mademoiselles to work out. Today is upper body and cardio.
9:45am - Good morning to Shirley, the fitness trainer at mademoiselles, and off to the bikes for 15 minutes of cardio work. As I ride the bicycle, I watch Joyce Meyer on the ipod, " Eat the Cookies, Buy the Shoes" Great video and the book is now out, so make a note to buy it today at Borders. Started a new workout, with the addition of floor crunches, abdominal crunches, and 10lb stretch for obliques.
10:15am - Call from Susan, for a reminder for lunch. Cut workout short, to meet her at 11:00am for lunch. I will build 30 minutes cardio into my afternoon or evening routine to make up.
10:40am - Stop at bank to get some cash for lunch. Called Susan to reschedule lunch for 11:30am instead of 11:00am.
10:55am - Home to change out of workout clothes and into dress clothes for lunch.
11:15am - Okay off to meet Susan at Shartel Cafe' on 50th and Shartel
11:20am - Arrive at Shartel Cafe' and Susan and I decide to eat at Adobe Grill, which is right next door. The food was delicious, except for the Mexican cheese that was sprinkled on my tacos. So I scrapped it off and ate the insides of my tacos instead. We had a variety of salsas and they were all delicious. Our waiter was superior to all I've had and very attentive.
12:15pm - After lunch we take a ride to Susan's husband new office space. He is a liscensed LPC, and just completed his CARFcertification process as an agency.
12:35pm - Okay, missed my morning coffee, so a stop at Starbucks for a cup of coffee and a chocolate cookie. (Eat the Cookie...Buy the Shoes)
12:55 - To Work, for the afternoon.
4:03pm - Posting my first notes to my blog recording my day. I'll have to add the pictures as well.

4:30pm - Headed to Border's to pick up Joyce Meyer's newest book, "Eat the Cookie, Buy the Shoes" and some new colored pens.