By the time I finished getting to the page where I could add an entry AND after I finished getting the pictures set up, my mood had changed from "mellow" to extremely "frustrated" and ready to sign out.  Nah!  It wasn't that bad, but it was not very easy this time.  Oh, well--I'm getting used to having problems here at AOL, and I'm just about ready to give it up.  And I really would hate to do that because that's how my "growing up" on the computer took place.  We shall see what happens!

Today was pretty quiet, but Sid did go out (and is out right now) putting up more of the siding on the gable area.  I think he's reached the point where it takes a lot to get him motivated to finish up, but he does it.  Once that's done on the front and the back, the rest is just what I call the "icky picky" stuff.  School starts in just a couple of weeks, though, so he wants to finish it all up by then.

We had a long chat with Josh last night, and all is well out there is Castle Rock.  Brynn has completely recovered from her little surgery, and they're thinking about the doctor's recommendation to do a little further surgery to make sure that little growth is completely gone.  They'll probably wait until winter, after the kids have had fun during the summer months and are back into the school routine.  Also, I feel I must do a little bragging about Josh:  He works in a hotel and does planning for large groups who attend various functions at the hotel.  He was "nominated" by TWO groups to receive a special award for excellent in handling their function (I'm not sure I'm explaining this correctly, but I know he will be getting some kind of award this coming week.)  CONGRATS, Josh!  Dad and I are proud of you!  (And you're never too old to be told that your parents are proud of you!)

Bec and her kids are vacationing in MS as I type this.  Hope you guys have a great time and that you return home safely.  Make sure to take a lot of pictures!

Since today was so quiet, this won't be a long post, but I just wanted to get on and say "howdy" to everyone.  Hope you had a great weekend and that this week finds you enjoying life at its fullest.

I forgot to mention in my entry last night that it was my cousin Di's birthday.  Hope you had a wonderful day, Di, and that this year finds you enjoying life like never before.  Love ya much, Kiddo!

HEARTFELT BLESSING:  "Things don't go wrong and break your heart so you can become bitter and give up.  They happen to break you down and build you up so you can be all that you were intended to be."

                                                      --Charles "Tremendous" Jones

NOTE:  Ever made pottery?  That clay has to be pressed and prodded  into becoming the thing of beauty that you want to make.  Our lives are much like that--hard things in our lives help us to recognize all the good qualities in our lives--the love and peace and light that we have within us. The bad things help us grow and become the persons we want to be. Even at my age, I feel that I am "still becoming" the person I hope to be when I'm done with this world.  Keep on growing!!!