KAREN ~ Did you ask that man who his real estate agent was??? Cuz he sold his in only 20 days, so he must have had lots of offers; and you're so close by. Are you trying to sell it yourself or do you have an agent? Not trying to be nosy or anything ~ LOL! Sometimes a larger, better-known agency can move a place faster than a small independant becuz they advertise over a larger area. The opposite can also happen; sometimes owner sales can go faster than agents; it depends on the area: it's a good idea to try both.

When I move, I also start packing way ahead; the move goes much quicker and smoother as well. I also use that time as an opportunity to get rid of stuff that we don't need anymore; and spiff up every nook and cranny.

IT has been snowing a little more today, but it was light, so we only have about 3-4 inches out there now. The stores are packed with wonderful gifts and I couldn't believe the aisles and aisles of junk (candy stuff). NOT TO WORRY ~ I didn't buy a single thing! Worth celebrating: YEAH ...

SHY ~ sorry to hear you have a bum knee; I must have missed that, or I just plum forgot. Is it a temporary thing? Do you have to have surgery? I have a bum knee too; some weeks are better than others; I just have to be careful with it, that's all. Would prayers help??? I'll send some up for you anyways ...

WELL, we had a good trip in town today; went visiting a bit and by a favorite lake, then came home with our SPIT BBQ CHICKEN dinner. We are just taking it easy tonight. Would you believe I forgot to check out the library again; oh well, that gives us an excuse to go for another drive to town: maybe tomorrow?

HELLO TO EVERYONE ELSE ~ take good care; your fellow encourger -- ROSEBUD ^PRAYERS^going up for you and yours ...

Hi, We do have the house listed with a realtor now But we had tried to sell it on our own first. After a couple months we decided to just list it and let the realtor take it over. This way if we have to take off and go to Tim's Dad in PA. or mine in MO. the house will be on a lock box and can still be shown. And I agree the more I can get packed up the less I have to keep clean!! LOL!! And with the snows coming just around the corner I will have plenty of days to stay inside and pack!
Well, just wanted to pop in again tonight and say Hello. Good thoughts and prayers for everyone!

Went to the library today; they didn't have any 'Walking off the pounds' tapes; they only had one exercise tape and it was out ~ hah! Heck, I have more exercise tapes than our local library ~ LOL! Be back later; have something I have to do ...

I'm back; had to deal with a PC problem. While I was typing my post, someone tried to piggyback on my computer. This person knows how to snoop/jump into other people computers; my PC alerted me right away, so that I could go deal with it, thankfully.

DH says they need some donations; no kidding! Guess we'll just wait til we go to the city next time to look for some. I have about half dozen different exercise tapes now to try, so that will keep me busy in the meantime.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend; take care, your fellow encourager ROSEBUD

HI GALS ~

We have been busy around here with the church meetings for the new building, working out of town, the Christmas Bazzar for Angie, dog walks, treadmill work outs, shopping and LIFE!

Today is my son's first anniversary....WOW! He is up in Santa Barbara today with his wife, my daughter and son in law attending another wedding...they called and are having a fun time.

I am really doing well with my weight loss. Although I am not losing anymore, I am maintaining! I am down 30 pounds and loving every minute of it. I would like to get down 5 more but realistically I don't think it will happen...but that is my goal!

ROSEBUD ~I hope you get the tapes you are looking for. Sorry about the computer problem.

RENNIE ~You bought a house you liked as a kid? How did that work out? Glad the docs were wrong!

KAREN ~One of the friends of my son's from Colorado Springs pulled into town yesterday with his wife and 3 kids....he called me and asked if Angie and I wanted our cars detailed (he used to do it before he moved)...seems he is spending the week with his and wife's family but can use the $$$ to get home!! He will detail both her car and my truck on tuesday! I hope the house sells...on my daily prayer list! Set high goals...just work on them one pound at a time!

Well I think I am caught up...have a great week ladies!

HAPPY SUNDAY EVERYONE ~ we had a beautiful, sunny day; tonight is gorgeous with stars and a bright half moon ... how nice for us!

EZ ~ I have been having unwanted visitors. They originally tried to come in thru my messenger; now they keep trying to come in thru my email. Some people just don't want to do the right thing: that is, pay for the services they want to use. They tried to come back in again, so I sent them to MICROSOFTLAND! I hope that takes care of it!

I was able to pick up some exercise tapes at our local second-hand shop; they are the only ones that have any. Neither our department store nor library seem to have them yet. The librarian wanted to know how long the 'Walking Off Pounds' tapes have been on the market. I couldn't tell her becuz I don't really know.

ANYWAYS, I have enuff stuff to keep me busy for now. I went for my walks today (three rounds); and had a lovely and healthy dinner. There's not much action here tonight; guess people are much busier than we are. But starting tomorrow, it's back to the housework, chores, laundry, and fall cleaning; getting ready for Christmas too.

Actually, Dh and I are really just trying to downsize a bit; when you have lived in the same place for more than fifteen years, you tend to gather up too much stuff.

SHY ~ I can't afford any of the houses I loved as a child; they probably go in the millions or close to it, by now ~ LOL! You know, the ones that look like a castle ...

KAREN ~ hope your house sells; glad you have an emerg plan in place. I saw your pics; things look pretty good to me; I guess it's just a matter of finding someone who wants to move into your area, and who can afford it!

HELLO TO EVERYONE ELSE; hope you all had a good weekend, and may you all have a pleasant week coming too ~ your fellow encourager ROSEBUD ^PRAYERS^ ever going up for you and yours ...

HELLO EVERYONE ~ Boy, is it almost Christmas or what? Less than six weeks away; seems like tomorrow when put that way. I think everyone on this thread is out Christmas shopping, CUZ THEY SURE AREN'T HERE!!!

ANYWAYS, I have been sitting in my rocking chair for the last half hour doing prayers and watching some beautiful fluffy snow falling down; we have over four inches today alone, I think. I did get out for two and a half walks; the winds were so fierce that I decided not to go out tonight. Last night, it fell to -7 C, but tonight it is back up to 0 again; hence the snow ...

I think that Dh is on the mend (old back injury); told him that this may be the start of a very bad habit, which sent him into laughing fits. I told him that he better be careful with all that laughing cuz he may hurt himself again; and we don't want any more of that, now do we??? Do you detect a hint of sarcasm in my tone? good!

SHY ~ when I was young (sevenish) we lived across the road from a huge (3-4 stories, at least) red brick, Victorian-Style home, that to me looked like a castle. I was mesmorized by the size of it and wondered for ages who would live in such a place? Turns out, it was a tiny, little old lady living there all by herself ~ LOL! In reality, I am just the type who would be happy with a quaint, little Irish cottage; with a garage for Dh, of course; gotta keep him busy somehow!

ANYWAYS, Monday is laundry day around here; plus did a few small odd jobs, and some other boring, daily stuff ~ hehe. Well, it's getting late, time to go get ready for bed. Hope everyone is keeping well; take good care, your fellow encourgager ROSEBUD ^PRAYERS^ going up for you and yours ...

Hi all, sorry I haven't been here for a few days. Life has been busier than usual. I have been reading your posts and keeping you in my prayers everyday though!

Dawn - wow - what a story. I always wanted to buy a stone house that I saw growing up - I still kid my husband that I will buy it some day (of course I have never even seen it for sale)

Rosebud - BRRRRRR! I'm sure we will have your weather soon enough! I did do a little shopping over the weekend, but mostly it was outdoor stuff. We got the Christmas Nativity set up.I think we drive our neighbors crazy - full - almost life-size set - Mary, Joseph, baby wise men, camel, shepherd, sheep, angels, star, more angels in the trees. My electric bill goes bonkers for all of Advent and Christmastide!

Gary - glad the bazaar went well! I loved your thread about your "wives". Maintenance this time of year is hard - you are doing well! Don't give up on that last 5 lbs - but maybe it can be a Jan-Feb. goal?

Karen - You are doing great with your weight loss! WOW. 150 seems like a long way off for me right now - it is coming of SO slowly! I think you are really wise to start packing some things now. Here's hoping that you get a nibble on the 5th wheel or house soon!

We had our annual Thanksgiving dinner Sunday at church. DH and I did really well! I even avoided the dreaded dessert table (takes a bow).
Here's hoping I can do as well when I have all the leftovers from Thanksgiving in my fridge!

SHY ~ oh yes, we understand poor; poor as in my mother begging farmer's for food for us kids; later on, she found some sweet dears who would sell her old hens for a dollar each (we had to pluck'em and clean'in though). Yes, we have lived in houses with no water, no heat, at times no hydro ~ lol! Have used those old out-houses, pedal toilets, and porta-potties. I used a window sill once for my fridge and more than once used a hot plate and a toaster oven for a stove. Yes, I have even paled down my own trees for wood for heat and cut them up with a hacksaw.

I got my first second-hand doll when I was five; and my first and only new one when I was eleven (a Barbie). Sometimes, I only had one pair of undies to wear and had to sew them over and over. Oh yes, we know poor here. But GOD has blessed us so much and today we have more than enuff now.

My biggest dream is to have my own house with a fireplace; DH says that 'I might as well ask GOD for the Moon' cuz I ask GOD every day to help us get our own home. And I know that he will; whether we have to build it ourselves or buy one; it will happen, I just know it. You have to believe in your dreams first, so they can happen for you ...

The Bible says that 'ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD' and more than once, I might add. My uncle says that he will help us build one on our lot that I bought many years ago; and this summer, we planted more than 50 trees on it to get things started. We have the foundation bricks there already and we have all the windows too (thanx to my uncle again).

So things are starting out nicely already, I think. Sorry for rambling; you got me thinking about my childhood. Even though there were some tuff times, there were many wonderful times too. A friend said to me just the other day, that for those of us who had a rough childhood, the best thing to remember is that 'It's all over now!'

ANYWAYS, that's enuff of that. We have six inches of new snow and it's very very cold, but it looks nice. Got lots done today; made a lovely lean beef and veggie stew tonight. Well, gotta run and have my tea; I'm running late tonight, then it's off to bed. Take good care; your fellow encourager ROSEBUD^PRAYERS^ going up for you and yours ever still ...

I have read and praying...be back tonight...bless you all!

WILMA ~ WED. weigh in ~ 169.4!! MY LOWEST IN ABOUT 6 YEARS!!

Dawn and Rosebud, I certainly relate. My first doll was my only Christmas present the year I turned 3. My mom saved boxtops to get it for me. Hand-me-downs were a blessing, not a curse as most people view them. I always felt like it was Christmas when neighbors and cousins would bring over their old stuff.
I agree, most kids today don't have a clue and are very materialistic. Although we have been able to provide for the kids, neither one is hung up on material possessions. Neither is our DIL (thank you LORD!).

Stewardship is a big thing in our house. Raising the kids to believe in stewardship of all of the blessings that God has provided has given them a good foundation. Consequently, we live in a modest home in a modest neighborhood. Nothing fancy, but it is a roof over our heads and warm and dry and comfortable. It was built in the 1800s and has "character". We let the kids know that it was a trade off. We bought a house we could afford, so we could share with others less fortunate, and also save money to help them with their education. No, it isn't a fancy house like many of their friends have, but I think it is very warm and inviting and all the kids always seemed to like to hang at our place.

I hope everyone has a blessed Thanksgiving. We have so much to be thankful for. And - I count each of you as a blessing in my life

HELLO EVERYONE ~ very cold here (-10C at the window) with big winds; but I did get out today and did two rounds of Ski-Walking; one short one to fill all my feeders, and then went down the road to the next farm and back. Was frozen by the time I got back, but so pleased that I made it.

SHY ~ ditto: I certainly understand what you are saying. We feel very blessed today becuz we have so much more than we did in our childhood. DH and I were just talking about this subject too; and mused that we now have way more than we need (too many clothes now). I think that is becuz we didn't have enuff in our childhood that we overdid it a bit, like a drawer full of socks or undies; that's what my sis thinks anyways.

We have lots of nice things too; some are new and some come from second-hand shops and garage/yard sales. I tell Dh 'No one will know unless we tell them, right?' That's why I feel so rich now too; I think it's all a matter of perspective, and I also love simple things more, like watching my birds, listening to music, and so on.

COUNTING ~ sounds like you have done a good job keeping your kids grounded with a good foundation of beliefs, and by example too. What day is the American Thanksgiving Day held? It's not on our calendars for some reason

EZ ~ I thought your goal was 170 lbs; don't disappear now! WILMA won't like it at all if you go below her; that's dangerous territory ~ LOL!

WELL, it's time for my evening tea; we've had a good day. Take good care everyone; and GOD BLESS from your fellow encourager ROSEBUD ^PRAYERS^ are going up for you and yours, as always ...

The 4th Thursday in November is American Thanksgiving. Weird huh?
But it always makes for a 4 day weekend!

COUNTING ~ Yah, that is weird: on a Thursday! Ours is always on a Monday, so we have Sat/Sun/Monday holiday weekend. I guess you get the Friday off for some reason??? Dunno why ~ just becuz ~ lol!

So true. Working for the school system, I get Friday off. But DH works in a hospital. Holidays don't necessarily mean ANY time off. He does get Thanksgiving off this year, but some years he works all 4 days of Thanksgiving weekend.

I am so thankful for YOU! I have been slacking on my posting here but I do read and pray daily! I will post to each of you this week-end and try to catch up!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO EVERYONE....AND A HAPPY DAY TO MY FRIENDS FROM CANADA!