All My Children #005

Hi kids,

I trust you all had a good week. I know it was an especially busy and hectic week for Tom and Jennifer, with hopefully a productive and welcoming end to it all. You are officially now moved in, huh Tommy ? Trust me ... there will always be work to be done. Always projects waiting to be finished. ( or started ) Always improvements to be made ... just keep them all in prospective. Keep a list, prioritize things to be done, and just keep at it. Life is made up of all the "things" to do each and everyday. Take your time and enjoy your journey too. As the saying goes,' Rome wasn't built in a day'.

Well now, Happy February to you ! One month gone in this new year already. This past week was just OK I suppose. Nothing special I guess. Cold temperatures, snow, and grey skies. I guess I am having some seasonal blues. Missing some sunshine on my face for sure. But, spring will be here before I know it. I hope that groundhog does not see his shadow !

Aunt Patty and I held true to our exercising program this whole week. Yeah !!! Bless her heart, she has been a real trooper ! I am impressed ( and surprised ) by her attitude of wanting to go up to the attic each morning with me and try to follow along with the gal on the tape. She may not be able to do the movements correctly, or keep up with the continual changes during the work-out, but let me tell you, she stands right there in front of the TV, she smiles, tries, smiles, tries more, drinks a little water here and there, she laughs and she is sort of in her own world of seeing herself participating and doing well !!! She is happy ! I am so impressed !!! God Bless her !!! She is out of her room, she is moving her body instead of just sitting in a chair or on her bed as usual ! I am so very proud of her ! She loves the orange t-shirt that I bought her and told her it is her exercise outfit. She always has it laying out for the next morning beside her bed. I need to go to Walmart and buy her another one too. She lost a whopping 8 lbs the month of January ! Go Patty Jo !! Me ? Well ... I did not lose much ! ( 3lbs ... ughhh !! ) Disappointed big time. I hate the scale !! I exercises daily, but I must be still eating to much. Oh well, I have to give myself the credit for making a good change into the exercise routine for now, and just know it takes more time to change other habits. I believe something I read recently, "A balanced body helps you create a balanced mind. As a result, peace and order begin to replace the chaos and frenetic energy of a busy life. " So, I will continue onward toward my journey for better health.

Dad made his spaghetti today and it was as good as always ! Hmmmm !! Then, I watched the Superbowl with Dad tonight. Actually, Aunt Patty did too. Not really my thing, but, I felt sort of obligated. I would have felt bad for Dad to sit in there by himself and watch it. So I read a book and sat there talking with him Thur-out the game. It is times like this Dad really misses his kids. He would give anything to be able to be with any one of you, when watching stuff like this. Sometimes it is really hard to have so much distance between us. It can suck for us parents for sure. I hope Tommy and Billy's Superbowl parties went well. Dad said how cool would it have been to be able to show up at one of your houses and surprise you ! Haaaa !! Well ... it didn't go the way Dad wanted in the end .... he hates the Steelers. Maybe next year it will be ... "Go Browns "!!!!

Well have a good and healthy week. Take care of each other. This month is Valentines month, so be extra caring, extra loving, maybe do a kindness for some one un-expecting of it. It isn't just about romance you know, it is for all of us. We all need the kindness and caring. Be loving towards people in general this month. Share the " care ".

"Enthusiasm is a kind of faith that has been set on fire.-George Matthew Adams "

I do have to say, Dad and I did have lots of fun this afternoon. The sun had been out for a little while (it warmed up to 42 today) so it started to melt the 2 inches of rock hard ice that has been built up under the snow for a month, in our driveway. So, we each dressed warm and went outside into the driveway with shovels, and as Dad broke up the ice over the concrete, I shoveled it over to the side. We spent about an hour getting this accomplished, but, we couldn't get it all. The sun just didn't stay out long enough to get all of it soft enough, so we had to leave some for another winter day. Yeah ! I know, I bet your each saying " Man !! I wish I could be there to do that too !" The fun was all ours ! ( and the forecast shows snow for the next 5 days in a row here ! So great ! )

Remember Dad and I love each of you very much, Momma G