7 in 7 Day 6

I read this article today, about a boy who found $ 20 .

It warmed my heart. That this boy, thought more of someone else than himself.

When I've been given unexpected money this past year, I've made sure to donate to some organization, several times it's been to a local pregnancy center, then to a homeless shelter in our community. I often wish I could work full time for a non-profit. Hmm well I still have a little over half my work career to make a career change.

If you were given(found) some money that you weren't expecting, what would you do with it?

7 in 7 **Spring picture Edition **

Since I'm tired & it's late. Picture dump post.

I figure if I post some warm pictures, it will warm up outside.

 

 

daylilies

 

Hostas

 

beautiful roses

flowering trees. can't wait for Spring !

 

7 in 7 travel

I love to travel. Just haven't done much of it lately, or up to pre-marriage standards.

I have a lot of things/places checked off in the book 1000 places to see before you die.

on the U.S homefront. I have been to a fair # of states, not all, but a lot. I have a cousin, who has been to all, but 2 ( AK & HI )

My list includes: Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Delaware, Maryland, D.C. Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Arizona, California, New Mexico, Washington, North Carolina, Hawaii, and Wisconsin. So a little over half of them, but don't make me pick a favorite. Some of those places were to see family, and some were for excitement, some I went to for work, and some were for pure enjoyment( Hawaii ).

Before I was married, I traveled for work, a fair amount ( in the US ) made it to some places, I definitely would never make it to on my own. ( French Lick, IN ). One Christmas I drove a car w/ my friend from Michigan to Arizona. Long trip!! Went to Hawaii with my dad, he  passed 2 months after that, we stayed in all military hotels, was by far a top 5 trip, and time I will cherish forever.

Travel outside of the country; Canada, Mexico, Germany, Italy, Austria, and Amsterdam.

Canada to us, is like just another state, since we are so close to it, but we go there often enough, been to all the biggies, like Niagara Falls, Toronto, Georgian Bay, Tobermory, London, etc. We go most summers since we've been married to my husbands family cottage in Canada. ( long time in the car, to stay for only a long weekend, our visit usually involves some sort of "work" ) We stay in the cozy cottage, that looks like this.The header picture on my blog, is from the road to this cottage. The second picture is of the views from the ferry we take to get to it.

 

 

 

Mexico was my first trip out of the country by myself. Admittedly I was a girl scout growing up, and went on a trip to the "world center" which was in Mexico City. It was 2 weeks, very different cultural experience for only being 13.  We also visited Cancun several times growing up, and I took hubs there for our fall honeymoon.  ( we got married in May, but because of our business, couldn't get away for more than a night, we opted to hold off our honeymoon til the fall, the only time since we've been married, that we both have gone away for more than 3 days together )

My first trip to Europe was for a pilgrimage (WYD), and went to Italy.  Second trip to Europe was on a walking tour of Italy. Third trip (WYD) was to Germany, but we stopped in Amerstdam, went to Italy, and drove thru Austria, on our way to Germany.  European vacations deserve a post of their own.

So around home, when we need to escape we jet away in our SUV to Frankenmuth, or Traverse City.

 

little gem was taken in a vineyard overlooking the West Bay in Traverse City.

 

When the hubs & I got married. We I made a list of places I would love to go, as a couple. Those included Paris, Italy, Hawaii, Key's-Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, New York, California Wine Country.  To date none of those places have been visited by us as a couple. This list was made before our honeymoon.. I have it on our refrigerator as a reminder each day of our my dreams.

I think a big reason why we haven't explored many of the destinations on the "list", is IF. There was always a big what if, I were pregnant, I might not be able to travel that far, or what if I got sick, or what if. I am ready to stop what if'ing and LIVE. If peanut part III doesn't happen soon, I'm ready to book some tickets & Goooooooooo. I've also turned down a lot of travel at work, since I've been married, I'm ready to start saying yes.. cuz even if I can't travel with hubs, just getting away, even if for "work" it's good.

Manitoulinn Island, CAN

Do you  have somewhere you desire to go or a recommendation?

 

7 in 7 Post 4 - Fair is Fair?

think about it.

 

 

 

Lately I've been thinking about all the cards we've been dealt & are they fair. When I say we I mean, my husband and I.

 

The last 3/4 months have been especially challenging for us,  for a lot of reasons; we lost Andrew, the winter has been super harsh, family drama.

 

According to Wiki  Fair :in accordance with the rules or standards; legitimate.

"the group has achieved fair and equal representation for all its members"

synonyms:

just, equitable, honest, upright, honorable, trustworthy

 

So with Andrew, I don't think what happened was in our control, I accept that God takes some saints, before we get to spend our Earthly life.  Fair?

 

Winter being super harsh ( my husband does snow plowing) It's rough on us as a couple, it causes a lot of stress, doesn't make for many dtd days.  I don't think the winter has been just, but again, something we don't have control over.  I've told this to some customers who've called & complained about it. I told one lady, Anytime you want to turn the snow to OFF, is fine with me.  Does it mean we don't have to deal with it? No!  Fair? probably not.

 

Family drama... you've seen me write about it  before Christmas.

 

I promise something upbeat tomorrow.

 

Linking up with Jen at Conversion Diary for .7 in 7 posts.



7 in 7 Day 3

25 days left til Spring.

I can not tell you how happy hearing the word  S P R I N G , makes me feel.

We still have a lot of winter left around here, and have heard a priest or two joke that their still may be snow at Easter.  The hubs and I and a couple of his plowing buddies are betting on how long some large snow piles will take to melt. Crazy geeky, snow plow stuff, I know. 

In other fun stuff, it's snowing, AGAIN!  To not get depressed, I won't don't can't don't watch the weather report anymore. It's just downright ugly to see anymore.  We have about 18" solid snow on the ground. The edges of our driveway, and drifts are about 3' deep.

Today I will not complain about seeing green. Trees, grass, bushes.  Ahhhh. can't wait for these days.

Day 2 of 7 Pro-Life

I read blog post  the other day, about miscarriage & Pro-Life people.

I share a lot of the same feelings as the blogger who wrote the post. 

In my world, the mooses are very well known pro-lifers. Yet they are the last people to say anything about our multiple losses. Yes they did what everyone did & came to the funeral for our son, but do you think they said anything as Andrew's due date approached and has passed.  I honestly don't know why such pro-life people don't show the same respect for life of babies already in heaven, as they show to the life of women who come in who are abortion minded. I know they and others pray for babies who are aborted, but do they show the same respect for babies lost in miscarriage. ( I don't feel they do).

Don't get me wrong, I realize not all pro-life people are like this, but in my circle, A LOT OF PEOPLE are.

A lot of pro-life people don't know how to treat women who have had miscarriage(s).  Maybe should be better described as, they don't know how to act around women who have experienced loss. They are so focused on saving, they don't know how to respond to loss.

If all life begins at conception. Treat all life like a human, no matter how long they are with us.

1 of 7 ( new tools around the house )

I'm going to try the 7 posts in 7 days.

So we recently bought some new tools for around the house.

So the first thing I bought was a robotic duster.

I used it for the first time this weekend. I only spent $20 on it. So for the money spent, I'm not too upset. It is weird to hear it Working. It did dust, like it is supposed to , I am just not sure if it got the whole room.

So the hubs got a flat blade on a stick, used to chop ice, or scrape it off the sidewalk. Although I have used it

More than he has.