Time marches on....

Today is the last day of February and I thought we celebrated the new year of 2009 just yesterday?  Time marches on, whether we join in or choose to ignore it, it continues.  This last week of February has been a whirlwind.  Two nights were spent assisting Lee and Emily with registering for wedding/new life together....stuff.  I missed several meetings.....the church related school board, my county leadership, youth and learning to knit socks!  Yes, I was supposed to go to a knitting class today, but 6" of snow kept me home.  But being with my family was well worth missing the meetings.....I'll always have meetings, but won't get to experience the first born's, first (and hopefully only) wedding and all that goes with it.

I got to spend 2 delightful days with my dad.  He's putting up a couple of new ceiling fans for me, and finding ways to make a puzzle out of the process, thus giving us additional time to be together and let me fix him lunch! HA.......gotchya dad.

I've continued working out with my good friend Carrie.........she's making me sick, though.......losing weight much quicker than I!  Lawrence and I got to spend Friday evening playing American Idol with she and Jeff.....Jaxson and Aaron were spectators as well......ate some of the best dirt cake I've ever had! HA

Lee and Emily showed up late on Friday evening, spending the biggest part of today with us. They had to do "parent interviews" with us for their premarital class.  That was interesting.  I also was able to complete bridesmaid dress #2 and started cutting out #3.  Will be making 2 flower girls dresses and 2 candle lighter dresses after that.  This being "retired" sure keeps you busy.

On a down note this week, one of my brothers was laid off and that just leaves a pit in my stomach.  We're all hitting our knees hard for he and his family, as they are.  He's already hit the pavement looking for work, and I have no doubt God will bless that, it's just the unknown that is a little scary right now.  We would all covet your prayers in this matter, as we all continue to pray for the MANY people that have found themselves in the same situation.  We know God is sovereign and cares for his children, so we're just praying and waiting to see what He has in store.

Well, would you consider March coming in as a Lion or a Lamb?.......

The 1st of 5, and other stuff.

Yes, you read correctly.....5 dresses.....the groom and bride to be thought it would be fun to add a 5th person!  But no worries, my future daughter-n-law did ask me FIRST.  Of course, I said yes, what's a "favorite", "world's best", "most-loved" mother-n-law candidate to do?

I can not believe how much I am enjoying making these dresses!  I'm in the middle of dress 2 and going to get measurements for dress 3 next week. The pattern is a pretty simple one, but is essentially 2 dresses in one, as they are completely lined.  The material is nice to work with and I'm just plain having fun.

I'm also staying very busy with many other things. I'm currently in a county leadership class that meets weekly and am sitting on two school boards.  I've been to Jefferson City twice in the past month to meet with my representatives and was able to hear Governor Nixon speak at my most recent visit.  I hate politics, by am finding myself immersed in them lately.  

The house will be coming off the market, soon, and I'm okay with that. Between the wedding and not knowing where we want to go........we think we'll just stay put.  I've come to realize, I won't feel like anywhere is home, til I get to my eternal home. 

Wedding plans for Lee and Emily are coming along........spring break will be busy with invitations, showers, smaller details being ironed out.  They do have their cake lady, photographer, church, reception, colors, attendants, tuxes.......and a few other things.....lined up. Now it's the smaller details that we start working on.  Not to mention the fact that the wedding will be in Lathrop, so we're rounding up rooms for various wedding party members that are from out of town............see, it's not so bad to live in a town where you know a lot of people, is it?  :)

There have been a few family birthdays and anniversaries since I last posted. Jody and Nicki celebrated their 13th anniversary in January, along with 3 birthdays.  This month Rance and Brylie celebrated their 7th anniversary and we've had 2 birthdays.  All these kids just keep getting older and older.......how can that be?  I'm not getting any older!

The workouts are going well, so well, I've decided to buy myself a wii-weeeeeee! What a great little device.  I would have scoffed had my kids wanted one, but here I am, an empty nester and buying myself a game machine!  I don't even have the excuse of grandkids... Thank you, Lord......I need to get this wedding over before I start thinking about that.

Sewing seams and working out!

A few weeks ago I read my friend's status on facebook and decided to be bold and see if she wanted a workout partner!  She'd been doing 30 minutes on her elliptical and then 30 minutes on her wii fit.  She jumped at the chance to have an accountability partner and it was a partnership born!  I want to lose a little (a lot, actually) weight and tone up before Lee & Emily's wedding.  So far, I've found my muscles are pretty much in retirement and my weight is stubborn!  But the workouts are providing me with new found confidence, stronger muscles and bones (I need that since I'm on hormone replacement) and the energy to complete my new tasks.  

What are those new tasks?  I'm glad you asked.  After much him-hawing and wavering.....Emily FINALLY decided on the bridesmaid dresses that she wanted.  Of course, they aren't anything you can just walk in and buy off of the rack.....oh no......but they did happen to be available in a vogue pattern........found at Joann's.......requiring a seamstress...........That's where I come in!  Yes, folks, I have dusted off the old sewing machine from the kid's younger days, when they would wear home-made clothes; and gone to task.  4, count them, FOUR......floor length, black formal gowns.  Of course, no 1 girl is the same size, so many fittings to come.  I've actually broke down and ordered an adjustable dress form for this big undertaking, and believe I will be glad I did so.  

Now if she would just decide on her additional accent color, and the dresses for the candle lighters and flower girls...uh oh....I bet I'll be making them as well.  This wedding is fun stuff, but I will definitely be ready for a rest once it's over.

On a side note, the house showed yesterday.  Showed well, but wasn't quite what the single mother of 2 wanted..........thank heaven..........we don't have time to move right now, I've got dresses to make!