a clear head heading into time off...

So today I put in my third long fulltime day (for a parttimer) and then checked out of the work mode. I am off on a vacation week Thursday to Wednesday.  Tuesday was the end of the month invoicing deadline for processing and Wednesday any last invoices can be accrued into the system to count and be paid for the month of March.  I had the week scheduled off but since the change of splitting the week off over two weeks worked for them and it worked out better for me, win win and now I'm done..

I'll be heading up on Saturday to Stacy's for a few days, and then try and hit Yosemite again on the way home. Of course it would have to stop raining TODAY for the roads in the National Park to clear up for me by Wednesday I'd guess. In the meantime I'm trying to find chains to borrow, so I can pay someone to put them on IF I NEED them alongside the road for a price.. but at least to have them to carry in car for my own security as two weeks ago it was required to have them in the car in the park and use at a certain point of required.. I kind of went beyond Park entrance and that of security feeling without having them in the car, was in second gear to keep the speed down and then had to decide it was time to turn around, as the road got slippery on the inclines at 6000 ft level..  When I decided "thats it I need to turn around, a sunshine spot of clear road on the uphill appeared" and I progressed to make an 8 pt turn feeling that at least I wouldn't risk the slide over the edge of the mountain road on the uphill of ice..  No great picture of Yosemite National Park Waterfalls and the park in snow was worth risking bad roads.  I'll see what the week holds of the road trip and time off.

I will then return to work on Thursday / Friday do a little catch up, and then I am off on a full week with two weekends of vacation this time.. I will have a few days of no plans ahead of flying on the 10th to Texas and see Ashley until late on the 15th.. she has a 2-3 day period of time off while I'm there so that will be nice.  She's come home a couple of times each year, and I haven't been out there since she first moved to TX.  So I am looking forward to that trip for sure.  She is talking with her dad right now on the details of a decision she has to make by Friday and so that is his area of expertise.. I will help her decorate, or talk out issues etc......if she asks for input..

The other day I went on a book buying frenzy on Amazon of used and cheap cheap books compared in a book store or at the conference I went to.  Nikon 5100 for Dummies, Digital Photography for Dummies, and something something about "capturing unique photos".. In glancing at the book for "dummies" my first impression was "holy cow, this is a thick book, small print, and lots of details, how am I supposed to remember all of this" and then low and behold 4th page or so, there is a website for a cheat sheet of what is covered and I will be all over that. But since I bought the camera, there is alot to learn and the manual that comes with it is short and vague.. So I want to become a more knowledgeable camera owner and user of the right Fstops, aperatures, and such, so time to get busy.

I also ordered books from Christianbook.com (as a guest) don't need to pay for a $5 membership for something they will provide for free.. didn't understand the why of it, but bypassed that opportunity to find out also.  I ordered a year long devotional by Anne Graham Lotts called In the Word.. half price of the conference price which they sold out of, so worked in my favor.  I also ordered a western belt loop cross that a cousin told me about that she saw on this website.. Perfect look and idea of an addition to my western decor den.. I also purchased the devotional book that Anne mentioned that was written in the 1700's and her grandmother gave it to her daughter (Annes mother) at age 10 and it's been a family tradition of giving to the daughters at age 10 since then.. it's a morning and evening devotional with some notes that Anne has included in her version.  I'll write about Annes conference next.  So it's been and going to be like Christmas with UPS and the Post Office delivering packages this week... and my mail order Pharmacy, sheesh that never ends!

A friend invited me to a Harvest Church sponsored womens MORE Conference which was carried live in Riverside but sold out and they also had several locations that were simulcasting it along with the singing group "the Gettys".   We attended the simulcast. It was an excellent Friday evening and all day Saturday of inspiration.  Anne is the daughter of Billy Graham and shares his same passion for Christ and for sharing the gospel of the love of Jesus Christ for each of us. She shared her own stories of struggling with what the average woman struggles with, husbands illness, ministry pushbacks... and she just kept bringing it back to the simplicity that in the midst of all trials MORE of Jesus is what we need and that is the longing of our heart.  She did a workshop on how to study the bible, three basic questions to ask of any scripture you read breaking down each verse. Working 3-7 verses at a time.  What are the facts?  What are the lessons? How does it impact my life? Writing the verses out in the left column spacing each one in it's own workspace, write your answers to each verse to the right under a column for each question, and then working through each one, reflect and take it in prayerfully and listen for the voice of God to lead your perspective and understanding.   We went through a set of scriptures to practice this, breaking off into groups, and then interacting with her after each question.. great learning process for making it stick to memory.. (the questions had explanations of them but I'm to lazy to go upstairs and get my notes) so if your interested in the depth of the workshop, let me know and I'll share... Went away realizing that I have gone flat in my walk with Christ and need MORE of him daily in order to do his will and purpose for my life. Pour it in from scripture in order for it to pour out.

Well, while it's past my bedtime, I just made arrangements with my old walking buddy to walk tomorrow and Friday at 6:15.. I'll be lucky to make it far without breathing deeply but the company will make up for the sweat and hard work it will take,

so goodnight..

thoughts in my head spilling out..

I truly spent a lot of time this weekend motivated by a Costco coupon for 9cent pictures of 4x6, and also making 5x7 photos of Greg and my siblings.. My family has come together twice recently to do this and so I've been working with Greg side of the family to scrounge up a file to send via email. I then also had decided to print our feb Maui and the July family reunion pictures, some online, and others copied onto a flash drive to do at the store.. I ended up with other peoples pictures in my packet, or a missing 5x7, so quite thankful that today I worked 1100 reunion pictures down to printing 256.. Maui was well let's just say a lot more than that, but beautiful shots.. Next project is to book them to enjoy. We were invited to a birthday party today for Aunt Elsie who will soon turn 80 years old. She looks really well. It was good to her and see the women who from Leisure World are involved in each others lives with Aunt Elsie. Many of these women I know from past church, or neighbors of ours. Good to have a few moments to catch up with them... Many widows.. And then there were some family conversations with some catchup on life and kids..brothers Scott, Chad, friend Don Perris, and my cousin Randy.. It was a nice party and then we said our good byes. Well, ambien was taken early and it's kicked in... Another week lies close at hand...good night