A Sara Saturday

Last weekend, looked a little like this......

And last Sunday a little like this......I decided to do some major cleaning out and organizing.

Easter 2018

This Easter was very low key.  I slept in, took Sara's friend home after she had spent the night.  Sara went back to sleep after dropping her off.  Kyle slept most of the day until work.  I set out their baskets.  I didn't do much, they are older but I wanted to do a little something so I did.  It seems the kids still love little surprises and tradition.

I delivered Karlee's to her and then we ate a quick bite to eat for breakfast before she had to go to work.  She is the one that loves traditions so much and helps keep them going.

Benny Boy jr. died.  :(

It turns out that I possibly killed him without meaning too.  I was quite sad when it happened and I do miss my little buddy.  I cleaned out his tank, but apparently you only clean out part of the water not all of it.  They build up a slime and their own bacteria on their skin and then when that is all gone then well........it isn't good as you can see.  I didn't realize how attached I had gotten to my fish, but realized it more and more as the day went on and then in the morning the next day, I went to say good morning and well......no fish.

The next day after work I went and got him.  He is a Rose Gold Betta.  He doesn't have a name yet, not sure what to call him.  I can't call him Rosie, and Goldie sounds silly.....so he is just a fish that swims in the tank.  Fish really do have personalities and he is always moving and seems quite happy. I'm sure I will come up with a name soon.

The rest of the day on Sunday was spent doing a little laundry, going to the grocery store and cooking dinner.  The day was filled with little joys and blessings, very thankful.

Good Friday

Good Friday was perfect!  It was an awesome day spent with Ben! I really do enjoy spending time with him.  We got up Friday morning after the kids went off to school and got ready for our day.  We drove to Sedona.  I love the drive to Sedona, always so pretty.  There were lots of people milling around, it was funny some of them had jackets on....you know they were from out of town hehehe.  The sun was bright, the breeze had a slight coolness to the warming of the day.  We were hungry so we found the first place we saw, a Mexican food place with an out door sitting area.

Ben is so ready to relax, he works so much and so hard.

These were some fancy looking shrimp tacos with things you didn't expect to find in a taco, like grapes.....but the flavors were good and we were hungry so it was perfect!

I sent this selfie to my daughter Karlee and she replied back saying it was the best selfie yet!  She loved seeing me so happy!

After we walked around a little we decided we were ready to head to Prescott.  Ben was so determined to get settled for the day to relax, not go anywhere and just chill.  We decided to drive through Jerome to get to Prescott.  I hadn't been to Jerome since I was a little girl.  We would go to visit on day trips when we would come to visit my grandparents here in Flag.  There was this one time when my grandpa Melo was driving and I'm not sure where we were suppose to go but we ended up in Jerome.  I remember how much everyone laughed but still made most of the day and enjoyed it.  I had forgotten about all the windy, narrow roads.  There was so many people all over the place.  Its so crazy how everything really is built into a hill, type valley.  I loved looking at the buildings as we drove through, it would be fun next time to stop and look around.

We got into Prescott and we went to Trader Joes.  Ben knows how much I love going to Trader Joes and stocking up on wine and whatever else I think I have to have.  I didn't do too much damage, a little wine and that was it.

After that we headed to the Prescott Resort.  It was funny when we read the description online and it said that there was a casino in walking distance.  There is a casino called Buckeys in the hotel.  We weren't interested in gambling but just to walk around and look was something to do.

The view from the parking lot, the hotel is up on a hill.

I was trying to take another selfie......funny guy!

I couldn't wait until later in the evening to go out there when I saw this area as we checked into our room.

Went and checked out the casino, had a drink and played the machine at the bar, didn't win anything.

Guess where we headed and found a place to sit outside.....

enjoyed sitting outside as the day was ending....

We ended up meeting and talking to another couple that had been sitting outside. 

And now a new day has begun.....I woke up briefly early on Saturday and took this picture from the balcony before going back to bed....up too late.

Saturday.

We got up and gathered up our things to head back home.  We were going to go back home through Jerome but we both were so tired we just wanted to get back so we just headed out the quickest way back.  We got back to my place, he went to the couch and I went to my bed and we took naps for a couple of hours.

The time away so great!  We spent lots of time talking, laughing and enjoying each other's company.

The rest of Saturday was spent relaxing and cuddling on the couch watching Netflix.  It ended up being an Indiana Jones marathon kind of day.

My Friday!

Good morning!  Today is my Friday and its only Thursday!  The office is closed tomorrow for Good Friday and I'm off!  I have a day off while the kids are in school.  You ask what am I going to do with it?  Well I'm going to spend the day with Ben!  When I found out that I'd have today off I asked him if he'd day a day off from work and spend it with me and also its been 8 months that we have been together so what a perfect day to celebrate and have some fun! 

I'm looking forward to tomorrow, I don't care what we do as long as we enjoy and have fun together!  Maybe we will spend the day in Sedona, enjoying the warmth and the sun, or go to the Grand Canyon....I don't know yet.

Today I don't think will be as profound as yesterday was but it will be a good day!  The kids are off to school, Kyle sounds awful with a cough and stuffy nose but he's hanging in there, and Sara well she is always tired lol.  I have fed my fish, Benny Boy Jr. so he is swimming around his little tank happy and content. 

I'm going to sit here in silence for a few moments and then write in my journal after reading a verse or two out of my bible and then get my work day started and head to work.  It looks like it will be a nice day outside, a little warmer than it has been lately. 

Surprise! Today will be a great day!

The moment you rejoice in a new day and let things go and embrace the joy of a new day at a great job.......and then you are blessed!

Today was a great day!

Its been 6 months that I've been working at my new job.

I approached my boss asking him if I could "bend his ear" for a few moments.  He said that would be fine, that he was going to talk to me too.  We went into the conference room and I said he could go first but he insisted that I go first.  I started off saying well its about my finances and options that you had mentioned before in our last meeting.  I told him things had improved and the kids were starting to take care of their bills to me but I was still stressed.  He began to tell me that I've been doing well and......and......we are increasing your pay rate by $2.00!  I was so happy and surprised, I almost cried.  That announcement made my day!  He suggested to see how that can help and improve things and then we can meet again if we need to evaluate how my mutual fund is set up and go from there.

I went back to my desk, filled with excitement and gratitude.  I sat for a minute staring out sort of in a daze just letting it all settle in.

After my boss left for the day I decided to go to each person in the office, the other two advisors and two others.  I went to tell each of them how thankful I was for being apart of this team.  I think I surprised a couple of them but it all was received well and that was that.  

I really like my job!  I feel like part of a team, a family and I feel valued.

Safeway Parking Lot Before Work

I have time before I get to work to run into Safeway to grab a bagel to eat at my desk this morning.  Before going into the store I sat in the parking lot typing out my things that ran through my head and that I was feeling.  The words below are from the note pad in my phone.

"I feel like I'm at a place of release.  Releasing the emotions that have held me captive in a place of anxiety and discouragement and failure.  But I feel like something has clicked or switched or dumped out and I can feel it leave me.  I know its odd and sounds crazy but I can't help it.  It really feels like something is leaving me and I'm starting to feel awaken.  Like my soul can breathe and fly free with a renewed hope in this crazy life I have and this crazy world I live in and take care of my family in.
 I feel alive!

The songs continue.....

I finally feel strong enough to listen again to Christian music.  When the music stirs in my heart and emotions flood I turned my back and shut my heart down because I haven't wanted to deal with the emotions and thoughts and things that it brings.  I think of being unworthy, not whole and a failure and weak.  But now I cranked up the radio on the way to work and every song that came on spoke to me like it was picked out just for me!  I feel strong!  I feel alive I feel His power!  I do feel like crying but I think that would be more a an emotional release but I have to set it aside for now since I'm sitting here at the Safeway paring lot before I drive over to work after picking up a bagel to eat this morning.

I was set to walk into the office, to smile and feel happy and be happy.  I didn't know what the day would bring but it didn't matter with the renewed feeling I was feeling inside.