Dolly Performs at a Santa Barbara NIghtclub

Dolly has found her niche in life.  Her dream is coming true.  Dolly performed at a Santa Barbara nightclub.  She has been practicing for hours upon hours, for several weeks now.  Bobby and Donnie were not old enough to go.  However, Paul, David, Craig and I went to support her.  Dolly was Fabulous!!!!

I Love To Laugh

As I continue to count my blessings and "my favorite things", who better than Julie Andrews to take us to her Uncle Albert's house from Mary Poppins.  I love to laugh!  I hope you love to laugh too!

Jesus Loves Me

Hey, do you know what?\\

Jesus loves you too!  Just the way you are!

Maybe This Time

According to the world standards, I am a loser.  Presently I am jobless and homeless and I will never be married nor will I ever have children or grandchildren.  Pathetic, right?

For over a year now, almost on a daily basis, I play chess with Paul.  Chess is one of my favorite things to do in the world.  I never win.  Paul is always very patient with me and he is happy to see that my game has been improving.  Paul is the Master chess player.  I merely his student.

On my cell phone, I have a game called Forbidden Treasures that I hate to play.  Presently, I am level 28.  After each level one completes, the games states "YOU WIN".  However, if you fail to complete a level, "YOU LOSE" are the last words that one sees.  For me, I never understand why I do not think of myself a winner for 27 times.  The only thing that rings through my heart and soul is that "I am a loser."

All I know is that I have decided to not give up.  Not give up on life.  Not give up on playing chess with Paul.  Not give up playing Forbidden Treasures on my cell phone.  Why?  Because "Maybe This Time" I win.

Where do you feel closest to God?

Where do you feel closest to God?  Without a reasonable doubt, I feel closest to God when I am near the ocean.  For me, listening to the waves is like listening to God breathe.  My friend Michael Payne has offered me the opportunity of living with him in Lisle, Illinois.  I will be forever grateful to Michael for his kind offer but I must be true to myself.  You might think I am crazy or insane to choose to be homeless.  Maybe I am.  However, I am truly happy of the oneness that happens with my soul as God, the ocean and I unite.

When I look out at the ocean, I can not see where it ends.  When I look right, or left or staaight ahead, I am in awe of how vast the ocean is.  This reminds me of how big God is.  Truly God would not make something that was larger than himself.  One of my favorite things to do is scuba diving.  When I scuba dive, I am invited into a whole new world.  The silence makes it so easy to contemplate and commune with God. 

I invite you to listen to the ocean with me.  Find a relaxing place, turn on the volume on your laptop and try to breathe deeply and become one with the waves.  This is a mystical experience for me.  This may not be for you?  If not, where do you feel closest to God?

Grilled Chesse and Campbells Tomato Soup

One of my favorite meals is Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup.  Totally nuture food.  Usually I insist that the tomato soup be Campbell's but one of the best meals I ever had was when Jude Geerdes used her Mother's homemade tomato soup.  Instead of being sad that I no longer have dinners with Jude, I embrace all the times that I had to spend with her.  Jude has an incredible husband and two adorable boys now.  My life is forever changed having known Jude.  If you have met her, I am sure you would agree.

As I count my blessings, I am SO thankful for the days we had together. 

A Day Later.  If Donnie asked me once, he asked me at least one hundred times.  He wanted me to tell you that his Mom made "the best grilled cheese sandwiches in the world".  She puts the sandwiches in a frying pan on a very low heat.  She waits patiently for the bread to turn golden brown.  Absolute perfection.  She then cuts the sandwiches in triangles.  When you bite into the the grilled cheese, the cheese just melts in your mouth.  Sometimes to mix things up, Donnie's Mom, will grill the sandwich with a slice of tomato.  "Yummy!" Donnie exclaims.

Now Bobby wants to go home and ask his Mom to make him a grilled cheese with tomato soup.  He has never had a grilled cheese sandwich before.  Donnie wants to know if he can go over to Bobby's house for dinner.  It is almost impossible to keep those two apart.

The Gift of Physical Touch as my Love Language

Happy New Year 2013

One of my new year resolutions is to be more thankful.  Each day I post, I am going to "count my blessings, and name them one by one".  After a year, I will be able to look back at a full calendar of   "my favorite things"!

To start the year off, I would be amiss if I did not mention my love language is physical touch.  A friend of mine loaned me his electronic body massage equipment.  What a wonderful way to begin the new year by having the stress and tension massaged out of my body.  While I was tasting a bit of heaven, I was able to contemplate on one of the most incredible men in my life.

Ivan Petrov is one of the best massage therapists in the world if not the best.  Maybe my opinion is a little biased.  His technique and skill are remarkable.  As he works and kneeds out all the tension and stress in my body, he asks me about different areas in my life.  The body records everything.  Ivan knows the negative powers at work and is willing to listen as I release these areas of stress into the universe.  When you look at Ivan, you look at a young, handsome, and muscular individual.  However, when you get to know Ivan, you will see this exterior beauty is paled in comparison to his inner beauty.  If you are ever in Illinois, I recommend you make an appointment with my friend.

As I coninue to contemplate, I imagine Jesus Christ embracing me.  Maybe he already has through my dear friend, Ivan Petrov.