Celebrating February!!

Yep, have not posted a blog entry in 10 months and a whole lot of catching up to do, but not tonight. Tonight, I just want to celebrate February and the reason I celebrate this month above other months... Debbie and Stacey both celebrate their birthdays on the 13th and we all know what happens on the 14th. So, I have two days to demonstrate to my bestest girls just how much I love them and how much they mean to me.
Now, I was informed on Sunday evening that Debbie has already purchased her own birthday gift and I'm sure all of you ladies will recognize the word "COACH" as it relates to handbags and purses. Now, it was hard for her to tell me this because she knows that I know how much some of these purses and handbags cost, but in true Debbie fashion and I expected no less.....she saved me hundreds of dollars because "they were marked down Allen and I had another 25% off coupon," or whatever followed the saving me hundreds of dollars phrase. Ya'll know how she rolls. To my Debbie, shopping is a hobby...a sport if you will. I have golf and fishing!~She has shopping! Makes sense to me. I learned a very long time ago that the two words she only wants to hear from me is "Yes Dear." She normally doesn't hear those two words because I typically acknowldge my approval (or disapproval for what it's worth) with a series of grunts that after 32 years of marriage she understands. Again, makes sense to me. The other thing I learned along the way...when she's not happy, I'm not happy!
Ok, so what to do with Stacey??? Hmmmm, will have to give that some special consideration.

Transition

Funny, how life is full of transitions. Transitions to different ages, different towns, different churches, schools, jobs, and different lifestyles. Debbie and I have been through so many and in looking ahead....they will continue to come. However, through all our transitions.....God remains the same. He never leaves or forsakes us. Nothing catches Him by surprise. He knows our joys and our sorrows. He knows our parents' heart and how we yearn for only goodness and happiness....a better life for our children. He knows our fears and what we anguish over in the still of the night....when all have gone to sleep and we lay awake pondering the weights of the world and what tomorrow has in store for us. But, He wakes us the next morning and waits patiently for us to acknowledge that He alone was the one that gave us a peaceful night's rest and the energy to face another day.
Today my prayer is for my son and daughter-in-law as they face new horizons in their lives. I know God's grace is sufficient, but in looking ahead....it will be hard knowing that our children aren't "just around the corner" any longer. They both have moved to the next chapter as they grow their own families, friends, and lives. It's just another transition, but it sure is hard to get my arms around it.

THE TRIPPSTER!

Hard to believe, but four years have passed in the wink of an eye!! Today my grandson is four years old. How can that be? How can I even be so old as to have a grandson? How do the minutes turn into hours turn into days turn into weeks, months, and even years so quickly?? That is why it is so important to savor each minute...to not worry about tomorrow...but to celebrate today...today!! So, today I celebrate Tripp! He is the best grandson in the whole world because he is mine. We developed a bond early on as there were plenty of days when he was just a baby that I would get to pick him up from the sitter and keep him by myself until Joey or Stacey could get by to get him after work. Now, he's Debbie's heart and he knows it, but when he wants something "fixed" he knows to come to Poppa. I'm also his resident "wrestling dummy" so we climb up in the bed and he commences to jumping on me until he gets tired of the "pounding" he gives me. I wouldn't have it any other way.
I never knew my maternal grandfather as he died when my mom was a young girl and my paternal grandfather died when I was only 3. The only memory of him that I have for some reason is that he took me outside one night and he showed me the moon and told me a story about the "man in the moon." Funny what you remember, but I do remember him holding me that night out on his back porch and telling me that story.
Tripp, regardless of his age, will have so many more memories because of technology..more than anything else. He'll have the hundreds of pictures, videos, and yes...even blog entries. I look forward to many more memories and many more Happy Birthdays. Poppa loves you Tripp. Happy Birthday!

TARDY!!

It has been awhile....December 26 to be exact. Time flies! What's happening?
First and foremost....dieting. Time to get my body and some of my health back. I started Weight Watchers online 2 weeks ago. We have a contest going at work and there are 14 of us participating. If I had none the Weight Watcher's program was so easy, I would have started it years ago. I'm down 10 lbs. in my 2nd week weigh-in on yesterday and that is exciting. I've continued to eat a lot of the things I like and as long as I watch my points, it's all good. I have really laid off the sweets, bread...the soft drinks I have had are diet. I don't like diet drinks that much so my drinks of choice are usually water or coffee. I have a goal and that goal is to be down 60 lbs. by the time we go to the beach on July 3. Sounds like a lot and sounds unrealistic, but I'm committed to the "college try." I'm not sure I can average 5 lbs. a week, but even at 2.5 lbs. a week, I will lose over 50 lbs.. Trey is dieting as well and I am so proud of my son for putting his health in "priority" status. We're all "gym"ing it as well at least 3 times each week. Debbie and I were there Sunday afternoon and had the whole gym right to ourselves. Trey, Jennifer, and Stacey all have their own gyms and routines as well. (Joey, we know you have to stay home and watch the young ones.) When we hit the white sands of Florida this summer, we'll all be the combined "Lean Mean Sheneman Machine". (I include the Lancasters since Stacey is a Sheneman). I'm just sitting here waiting for Debbie to get home because I know the first words out of her mouth will be "are we going to the gym?" Never fails!
Work is tough right now and hitting the bike and weights is a great stress relief. If it were all proportionate, I would need to be at the gym for 4-5 hrs. each day! It's not that bad...thankfully surrounded by great people that care about me. We'll get there. You can eat an elephant...you just have to eat him one bite at the time.
Blessings!

Taking A Deep Breath!!

Wow! What a ride for the past 6 weeks! No time but Kroger time this time of year and I for one, am seriously glad that Christmas and Thanksgiving are behind us. While thankful for the holidays themselves and the wee bit of time I get to spend with my family, I am seriously ready for some "down" time. People that don't work in retail have absolutely no clue what goes on behind the scenes to make sure the customer is "happy" when they leave the store. It doesn't just apply to the Grocery industry...it is just about every retail company this time of year. I don't have a huge problem with the amount of business that we do, but I have a substantial issue with many "attitudes." People...get a life!! How would you like it if I came into your business and hollered at you over something you have no control over. Problem is, you don't want a legitimate explanation. Heck, you won't shut up long enough to even hear the words, "I'm sorry." I believe some customers actually walk in the door telling themselves our only service to them on that given day is to figure out new and inventive ways to take advantage of them. OK...I've got way better ways to spend my time.

OK, sorry. Someone just ame along and kicked my soapbox out from under me.

Thought For The Day

Hipocrisy is the act of pretending to have beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that one does not actually have. Hipocrisy is thus a kind of lie. Hypocrisy may come from a desire to hide from others actual motives or feelings.

Hmmmmmmmmm! Proof is always in the pudding!

Fall!

Doesn't the coolness of the air in the morning refresh you? There are many things about summer that I love...mainly the beach with the family. But, there is something about the fall with football, Halloween, cooler weather, and fishing that just does it for me.
As a young boy...going all the way back to 5-6 years old...I have so many fond memories of spending them with my dad on the beaches in North Carolina surf fishing. It didn't matter to him that I couldn't cast my own line or tie my own tackle. I think what mattered to him the most was that we were together and he was teaching me his passion and love...not only for saltwater fishing, but also for the sea. When we would get a bite, he would hook the fish and make sure it was on. He would then hand me the rod and tell me to put it on my shoulder and just start walking towards the dunes. I never reeled....I just walked. By the time I got to the highest point on the beach, the fish was usually flopping around in the surf.
As I got older and could handle myself with a rod and reel, I can remember many Fridays when he would get me out of school early and we would head to the beach for a weekend of fishing. The bottom line was..if it was the fall and the fish were running...daddy and I were there.
Daddy just passed away in January and I was just thinking today I should call him and ask him how the fishing was.....then reality set in. It has been a number of years since I have walked with him over the dunes and to the surf..carrying all our rods, tackle boxes, coolers, and rod holders. The memories are as fresh today as they have ever been. I miss my dad a lot. Tears now streak my face as I wish I could just talk to him one more time.
Fish on Pops! I love you.