Baby Obama

I had to post this blog I hope it works. Baby Obama on You Tube

Back to Reality

Now that the blessed and dreaded day has passed, it's back to life as usual... It seems trying on the persona name "Blessed Barb" felt like a "jinx" for lack of a better word... I'm just going back to plain, ol' Barbara...

I have to admit I expected my birthday to be all about me, but instead it turned out to be a day all about humility... Bill has always said, "Don't have such high expectations, and you'll never be disappointed." Those are wise words; I always do that on such occasions, and it ends up not living up to what I envisioned... When will I ever learn?

From this day forth, I will be more aware that high expectations are ripe for opportunities for disappointment, and I will avoid getting into that trap again...

Well, I better get back to my real life cleaning toilets, mopping floors, and doing laundry...

It's a Beautiful Day

We had a beautiful sunrise with puffy pink clouds painted across the blue sky like a fluffy sheet of cotton, and the temperature, a balmy 73 at 6:30 this morning! Of course, there's a light Santa Ana wind blowing, but I don't mind... I have the slider open and I can hear the rustle of queen palm fronds singing a soft birthday greeting.

This babe turned 52 today! Waaaaaaaaahhhhh!!!! I know--I can't believe it myself; yeeek, but it makes me more and more thankful for every day.

Yesterday, Bill and I took in a Hawaiian Slack Key Concert in Redondo Beach--4 hours of it!!! It was so beautiful and mesmerizing. I envy their laid-back culture, dance and music... They also had vendors, and this one in particular had the cutest baby clothes for girls--I couldn't resist!

People ask me if we've ever been there, and I just have to say, "It's nice to have something to dream about", and Bill says, "Not until they build the bridge...". But, by gum, if we haven't been there by our 30th anniversary--in 4 years--we're goin', bridge or no bridge!! I'm praying the experience will live up to the dream...

Today is pretty much open to go anywhere and do anything my little heart desires, since my heart desires such frugal, simple and innocent things, I cannot do too much damage... Now that it's almost 12 noon and I'm still in my jammies, I'd better get snappin'.

Tonite, my Darling Husband has reservations at a favorite restaurant of ours that we only go to on special occasions so it will keep it's specialness. I always say, though, that nothing beats the food at "Bill and Barb's Tropical Oasis Patio Restaurant", but sometimes it's just nice to have someone else shop, prep, cook, and clean up for a change.

I love doing all that most days since I know that the ingredients are healthy, the prep was done with "hygienically" (no food poisoning), it will have enough garlic or enough pesto flavor or cilantro flavor or whatever I am expecting to taste in the dish, and best of all I don't have to get dressed up and go anywhere! And the atmosphere is always pleasing--no screaming kids or weird loud music picked by some 20-something-year-old guy bussing tables...that was our experience on a Friday night at Wolfgang Puck's...

Next Tuesday my SweetiePie has arranged it so that I can go visit with my dear sister, Shell, and her sweet family for a week up in Northern California. I am looking forward to seeing everyone and being together again. It's a fascination of mine to see the grandbabies at their different stages of baby/toddlerhood. It's just amazing to me how fast they grow and change and take on new skills. I can't wait to see all the changes that I've missed in the last 5 months...

PS--

I found these gently used Born little girls shoes (8 1/2) the other day for half off--that made them $3.50! Had to get them for little Leilani... There were some other awfully cute shoes I wish could have gotten, but is hard to judge by long distance...

I'll have to pack my baggage with all the goodies I didn't want to have to send by mail at Christmas; then on the way home I'll have plenty of space to pack the treasures I find on our adventures up there... ;-D

Time to Hula....

PSS I feel so blessed and thankful to have such a sweet husband, a great family, and a few wonderful friends that love me for who I am; that is the greatest gift they give me and I am truly grateful to God to have you in my life...

Welcome to My New BlogSpace!!!!

So I am starting a new blog in this new year with the intention of sharing all kinds of normal, yet extraordinary views of a regular, yet blessed life. What can I say--God is good and I want to show you an example of a common person, submitted to God's will, and how good a wholesome life can be... It's so rich and blessed in my own simple, thankful way. It's not boring, and I've known my share of great and rich experiences. Let me tell you, if I may, the way it used to be and the way it is now...

I am such a free spirit, and I would be all over the place, believing anything that spoke to my heart... But then I learned about boundaries and that the "anything goes as long as it feels good" philosophy was a disaster. You see, God has boundaries of love, just like parents have rules for their children because they love them... They show they care by loving boundaries and rules. When parents don't love or care for their children, there are no rules or boundaries... I felt God's love around me in the encompassing boundaries of His love. I know now that He has given us the Bible to show us how to live.

I hear many say, "But I can't understand the Bible". The Bible can only really be understood by having the Holy Spirit, who is the Teacher and Comforter and is the only one who can teach you about divine things. Only the people who's eyes are opened by God can really understand what He is saying to us... All others who read will not reap the fullness of what God is saying to His people. The Holy Spirit is automatically given to those who with a repentant heart ask Jesus to come into their lives. That is the key to the Kingdom and the revelation of God's word. I pray that if you have always wanted to understand this marvelous realm, that you would give it a try... I did, and I have never been the same... God knows, I am not perfect, but my life is much richer now that God is a big part of it. I trust Him; He has proven Himself trustworthy unlike any other I have known in my life.