A Simple Women's Day Book

For Today Monday, July 27, 2009

Outside My Window...dusk is settling in.

I am Thinking...of all the things I need to get done at the Preschool this week, only I have a very busy personal life as well this week.

I am Thankful...for the extra hours Mike is working this week, this time of year {back to school} we always need extra money for new clothes, shoes, etc... not to mention college expenses this year.

From The Kitchen...tonight was a rotisserie chicken, mashed potatoes, and corn. Albertson had buy 1 get 2 packs free Petite Sirloins, I'll grill 2 packs tomorrow to have steak & baked potatoes one night, and with the left overs steak and mushrooms over rice for Wed., and steak salad on Thurs. The other pack is in the freezer for another week.

From The Learning Rooms...I'm still doing lesson plans for the Preschool, and still trying to convince Sarah to read...grr!!

I am Creating...lots of changes...hmmm...reminds me I need to write Changes Part 2.

I am Wearing...white shorts with a blue & white striped top.

I am Reading...Twlight...yes, I know I'm the only person who has not read the Twilight Series. I made a mistake by watching the movie first and then "trying" to read the book.

I am Hoping...that the car repairs being done on Laura's car this week will not go over the amount I have budgeted.

I am Hearing...the tv.

Around The House...someone needs to start on the dinner dishes, everything else is clean and caught up.

One Of My Favorite Things...the monthly organization books by the Mail Box Companion Magazine.

I am Going...with Laura to her Student Orientation on Wednesday...LOL!! Actually, now that she is a "big girl" I'm going to ride down with her, drop her off, go shopping until she is done, pick her back up and then take her out to dinner to celebrate her starting college!!!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...both cars in tomorrow for oil changes, and some {hopefully} minor repairs on Laura's car, Laura's Student Orientation on Wednesday, and shopping for a lap top for Laura, and hopefully another month's worth of lesson plans for the Preschool.

A Picture Thought...hmmm we'll see if I have this figured out or not. If i did it will be a picture of me & Mike with Laura showing off the scholarships she received for college.

31 Years Ago Today....

Mike and I went out on our First Date! I can still remember where I was when he asked me out, what he was wearing, where we went, what we ate, and which movie we saw. The story goes like this....

Mike graduated from Mount Dora High in 1977 and joined the Marine Corps shortly after graduating. I graduated from Mount Dora in 1978. Mike and I knew each other in high school but, never really hung out together or dated, he was the quiet, shy football player and I was the outgoing, flirty cheerleader. During my senior year I dated Mike's best friend Jeff, who had decided to join the Air Force after graduation. I broke up with Jeff before he left because we weren't serious and I didn't want to be tied down to a boyfriend who would be stationed in North Dakota.

Mike came home on a short leave to visit his family {he was stationed in Jacksonville, NC} and while home called my best friend up and asked her out. She told him she was dating someone but, suggested he ask me out since I had recently broken up with Jeff. His first response to her was "Uhhhh....I don't think so, I doubt she would go out with me"! Diane said aww...go ahead she'll say yes! So, Mike came to the store where I was working and got in my line to buy something {Diane had given me the heads up that he may be stopping by to ask me out} so, I flashed him one of my flirty smiles {haha} but, he kept letting other people go ahead of him {he was too scared to ask me..LOL} when he finally worked up his nerve we talked for a few minutes and then asked if I'd like to go out on Wednesday night, I said yes, even though I knew I was scheduled to work that night!

The day of our date {July 25, 1978} we had decided that he would pick me up at my friend Diane's house {I was staying the night at her house because she was allowed to stay out later than I was}and that we would be doubling with her and her boyfriend. When he came to pick me up he was wearing maroon colored corduroy's and a red plaid shirt {LOL...he had no fashion sense then and he has none today and to this day I kid him about that outfit}we went to Smuggler's Inn in Altamonte Springs and had steak and lobster for dinner { I also tease him about the butter he had dripping down his chin during dinner..LOL}. After dinner we went to see the movie The End with Burt Reynolds and Sally Field.

After we got home Mike and I stood out by his car talking for a while, I knew he wanted to kiss me, and it was taking forever for him to work up his nerve to do it so, I finally leaned into him and kissed him first. And, we've been together ever since!

So, after breaking up with one guy because he was going to be stationed out of state, I went right into having a boyfriend who was not only going to be stationed out of state, but serving over seas as well. In October'78 Mike gave me a promise ring, Dec.'79 he asked me to marry him {if you ask him he'll tell you I asked him...LOL} and then in Dec.'80 we were married.

Has anyone ever told you that God has the perfect mate for you and that he will reveal/show/or place that mate in your path when he feels the time is right? Well God did just that to Mike and I on July 25, 1978. Even though Mike and I were apart more than we were together during our dating years, we knew each other better than anyone else because of all the letters we wrote to each other during his time over seas. Our road has had it's share of bumps in it, but I can honestly say God hand picked my husband for me. He was my "first", he is my soul mate, best friend, the love of my life and I thank God daily for him.

Change....Part 1

Ok, this is so cool and shows how God works in our lives.

I really don't like change, I mean I'll change the style of my hair even the color of it, I'm always rearranging my furniture, but Big Change totally rocks my world, I will fight it and even try and hide from it. All the time forgetting to pray about it, when I realize my mistake and spend time in prayer I always given some sort of peace about the change coming my way!

So, for the majority of my married life I was a stay at home mom. I lived in my safe, secure little world and was very happy there. Mike worked at Lockheed Martin and while he wasn't making the"big bucks' he did make enough so, I could stay at home with our 4 daughters. In 1994 I was pregnant with our youngest daughter Sarah and Mike was worried that he was going to be laid off. Luckily he wasn't but, the company was starting to do some major downsizing. They even moved his entire area to Alabama, and relocating there was not an option.

Mike came home one day in 1999 and said Shawnie I've been doing alot of praying and soul searching and I have to make plans for our future, because I know I'm going to be 50, laid off, will lose my retirement, and at that age be limited to what/where I can start over. So, I'm going to go back to school to be a Police Officer. Well he could have knock me over with a feather from shock. I mean I knew he had been worried about the lay offs {I was hiding my head in the sand over it}. I fought this decision big time, I mean how dare he take me out of my safe little secure world and make such a drastic change!!! I was digging my heels in, until he said "Shawnie....God is leading me to do this, you have to trust me and him, I'm doing this to protect our future".

So, he worked full time during the day and went to school at night for nearly a year. Meanwhile, I followed our youngest daughter Sarah to Preschool one day and stayed {haha}. They actually had a part time spot open and I took it, after all it was only part time. I was there so much of the time anyway, and it still allowed me to basically be a stay at home mom. Mike finished the academy, passed his state boards and was actually hired before graduating. Here comes the grandaddy of all changes, it's time for him to leave Lockheed, leaving behind a decent income, great insurance {we only paid $50/mo. for family ins} and my safe, secure little world AND he tells me to make up for the drastic change in income I need to go to work full time...WHAT???!!!

Here's where it really gets good, after pitching a humongous hissy fit, Mike again says Shawnie I have prayed so long about this, God is going to provide for us you have to trust me,and him! This change will protect us for the future. Ok.....he starts his new job, loves it! The Director at the Preschool decides to leave and recommended me to take her position, with that comes a little more pay, year round work, and the flexibility of taking my younger girls to school and picking them up each day!

This is where I get goose bumps every time I give this testimony. Ten years ago this month Mike left Lockheed Martin after 19 years, he was vested with the company, has a 401k plan with them, and has a retirement package coming from them, he is also now vested with the City and will have retirement benefits from them as well when he retires. On October 18th Mike will turn 50 and everyone that worked under Mike, work with or worked above him at Lockheed have now been laid off, some with their retirement and some without. With today's economy, so many unemployed, and with us sending one to college this year and one more in 3 years I'm so grateful my husband trusted in God, heard his word and encouraged me to trust them both.

Change is good....but, God is Great!!

The Busy Woman's Day Book

For Today...Monday, July 20, 2009

Outside My Window...the sun has set

I am Thinking...about how frustrated I am that I can not figure out how to add pictures on this...grr..

I am Thankful...for my job so, many do not have one.

From The Kitchen...Ha! I miss my stay at home days. Tonight was hamburgers and macaroni & cheese {homemade, there is no other in my book} tomorrow will be crab & asparagus quiche with a caesar salad, Wed. will be fried chicken {homemade by Publix} and Thurs. ??

From The Learning Rooms...well here at home I'm doing my best to convince Sarah to do more reading, and assuring Laura she will and can start college classes in 2 weeks. At the Preschool lots of great changes and lesson plans

I am Creating...lots of new and exciting lesson plans for the Preschool

I am Wearing...khaki shorts and a melon colored t-shirt

I am Reading...nothing right now, I just finished First Kiss

I am Hoping...for no distractions this week so, I can get more lesson plans done than I did last week

I am Hearing...Big Fish, Mike is watching it on TV

Around The House...well the maid came yesterday {HA!} so, all looks good. Except the dinner dishes

One Of My Favorite Things...well thanks to Tiffany and Julie I believe it may be Dark Chocolate Sweet Dreams. I bought some today and have had a few spoonfuls, reminds me of peanut M&M's...thanks ladies!

I am going...only to work and back this week

A Few Plans For The Rest Of the Week...lots and lots of lesson plans and a date with the hubs on Saturday night to celebrate our First Date 31 years ago.

A Picture Thought...yea about that...I followed Tiffany's directions but, they don't seem to be working for me...big surprise there...maybe next time!

Help!!!!!

Ok...ladies I've let a few of you know that I'm following you. How I got this far I have no idea...LOL. I thought I changed my background, but no luck, except I have the "Cutest Blog On The Block" over my name. I really want to do the Daybook thingy but, I need help and lots of it...suggestions??? Have I mentioned I'm not a visual person more like I need a tutor sitting beside me showing me what to do....Helpppppp!!!!!