Thursday, May 07, 2009

Spring Cleaning and Stuff

It was gorgeous here yesterday!

I unplugged from the computer and spent my day doing some spring cleaning. 

I've had the itch to really clean for awhile now, but have been so busy with other things that I haven't been able to jump in and tackle it. Yesterday I had the entire day at home (one of my favorite things) so I got up and got busy. I opened all the windows and let some fresh air inside and at the end of the day I felt like I'd accomplished a TON!

I don't know if you guys have ever intentionally unplugged for a day, but I am amazed at how focused I am when I'm not distracted by the computer. My goal since the first of the year has been to unplug one day a week. 

In other news...
I really think it's safe to say it's spring. We're supposed to see 76 today! My iris are coming up and I also saw buds on my lilac bushes. YAY! I'm not going to pack away all my fleece just yet though (more cold temps this weekend) but it looks like I can switch out the majority of our winter clothes for spring/summer ones. 


I've gotten totally sucked into American Idol this season all because of that Arkansas boy, Kris Allen. Until a month ago, I had never watched AI, but since I'm loyal to my home state and all the homies there, I decided to tune in and help Kris by voting for him. He's in the final three now AND going home to Conway for a parade this weekend. Any of you Arkansas peeps going??? (I totally would if I could).


I had a cup of yogurt yesterday that was out-of-this-world-delicious. It was this brand/flavor. I'm not a big yogurt girl, but I might be now. I just about died though when I read it had 14g of fat. Next time I'll buy the fat-free kind. 


About that grey/gray question? I googled it. Seems everyone in the world spells it grey except Americans. We use gray. I like grey better. And now I wish my previous post had been titled "Old Grey Mer". Anybody else read that and think of Meredith Grey?


Have I mentioned we have a four-day week? Today is my Friday. I am so happy about that!


Some of you have emailed me to ask about my dad. Thank you! He's doing okay. Not bad, but not great either. He had some complications last week...an infection from his port and a kidney stone. Coupled with chemo, that's made for some unpleasant days. If you want to pray for him, I know he'd be grateful. I would too.


One of the things on my to-do list yesterday was clip coupons. When my purse was stolen so were all my coupons, including the file that I've had for 15+ years. I felt so lost at the store last week without it. It seems silly to say that I miss my coupons, but I do. Starting over from scratch is a pain.


Sarah has a big project next week for which costumes are necessary. I know from experience (Will did this project last year) that the contents of the school costume box are extremely limited, so I've been gearing my costume-challenged self up for figuring something out for her to wear. Imagine my surprise and giddiness when she told me she'd chosen to be a guide and she gets to wear regular clothes!!! I love her even more for that decision.


I had a great mail day on Monday! My sweet friend, Joan, sent me a Starbucks gift card to replace the one that was in my stolen purse. Joan was my next door neighbor in Arkadelphia. She is one of the kindest, most giving people I've ever met. When I was pregnant with Abbey and so, so, so, SO sick, she made me mashed potatoes. (Joan, I'll never forget that!) She called me every day to check on me and one day she asked if anything sounded good to eat. I said, "yeah, mashed potatoes" and that sweet friend made me some and brought them over. She'd also do nice things like make John banana pudding (his fave!) and leave us meals in our fridge when we returned from trips. I miss her, and when I opened her note with the Sbux card, I just started crying.


I cried even harder when I opened the package from John's parents right after that. Inside was a new Vera Bradley bag. I was overwhelmed with gratitude and appreciation for all that John's parents do for us...and for ME. I have lots of friends that struggle in relationship with their in-laws, but I love mine dearly. They love me and have gone above and beyond to make me a part of their family. It was a special gift and I am so thankful. (I just tried to find a picture of my bag online and I can't...I'll show it to you another time, but trust me, it's CUTE!)

24 comments:

Lauren said...

I think I need to do the unplugging thing once a week myself, I think it does alot of good..

YAY for being productive, doesn't it feel good??

That is soooooo awesome about all the goodies in the mail, doesn't that just make your day??? :)

Love ya, girl!!

Stephanie said...

Yea for unplugging and getting things done! Yea for inlaws and new purses! (And I will look forward to the picture. Love me some Vera Bradley). :)

Moriah @ Please Pass the Salt said...

So listen to what I did yesterday, I took a shower and put on a fresh pair of pajamas. Aren't you proud? I thought of you several times yesterday thinking of how I was following your example.

Didn't get a lot done, though; it was raining and that means three kids in a very small house. :)

That is so sweet about the replacements! What's the VB pattern?

Unknown said...

This post was so fun to read. You sound so very content.

So sweet of your in-laws to send you a new bag. when I heard I got a little weepy for you.

So happy the weather is finally changing! Whew! That was one long winter!

Angie @ Flibbertigibberish said...

Yes, I did think of Meredith Grey. :)

This is going to sound nuts, but yesterday morning I had this thought about your VB bag, and had a suspicion that one was in the mail for you. Isn't that crazy? I'm so happy for you!

And finally, I've GOT to unplug. I keep getting nudges from various places to do so, and you're just another big nudge to do it! I know I'd be glad I did.

Have a happy 4-day weekend!

Cathy said...

Of course, I will pray for your dad! I would have already been, if I had known anything was going on!

Thanks for catching us up on your life!

Yay for mail goodies!
Yay for sun!
Yay for productiveness!
Yay for you!

Gretchen said...

Yes, I thought of Meredith Grey. But you're 100,000 times cuter than she. Even though I lurve the show and can't wait for the "weddin".

I'm a Kris fan, too. Wasn't until about 1/2 way into the season. He's a cutie patootie, and even though i think Adam will win, I think Kris' music is probably going to be more to my liking. I can so see him doing the James Taylor thing.

Will continue to pray for your dad.

And I love Sarah even more for choosing to be a low maintenance costume kid, too. :)

Megan L Hutchings said...

I am in love with those types of days :)! God is so good to us...even in the smallest of ways!

Tiffani said...

Lots of "yay"'s in this post...

There's nothing like feeling so thought about and loved by those around us, is there?! You seem to have many amazing people in your life!

I love my inlaws, too, don't know what we'd do w/o them.

Sooo glad spring is here for you and school is almost out!!

I have a GREAT southern living recipe for Banana Pudding with a twist (you make it w/ Nutter Butter cookies!)..it's wonderfully delicious!

Carpool Queen said...

That yummy full fat yogurt is FANTASTIC. I've had it before. You almost wish you hadn't had it when you eat the non fat kind. Every once in a while I splurge and go "whole hog".

Melissa said...

Yay for a happy post! I'm so glad things are looking up for you!

Kendra said...

You didn't need to google grey/gray. I told you the correct answer. Just always listen to what I say and you will never be wrong! I sound like my mother now!

Deena said...

I also have wonderful in-laws who treat me like their own daughter. They are such a blessing!

Glad you are getting things back together. Sorry you had to go though all of that - I still can't believe your purse was stolen!

Lindsay said...

Hey Mer...
Glad to hear you're a Kris Allen fan. A bunch of us had a voting party last Tuesday. Unfortunately I won't be able to leave town tomorrow... I know I'll be hearing about the festivites from friends though.

VOTE VOTE VOTE... Simon denies he can win. His friends think differently.

Teri H said...

Just had to comment that is my FAVORITE yogurt! I normally don't eat a lot of yogurt and have to be "in the mood" for it... but I tried that yogurt and am in love! The way I'm making it these days is with honey, blackberries and vanilla macaroon granola... Heaven!

I was in your neck of the woods for a bit today... I came to see my friend Annelise and thought about you!

Melissa Stover said...

i usually unplug on saturday and sunday. usually late sunday night after everyone is asleep i'll check in. i tend to at least check my email every day though.

Christi @ Writing the Waves said...

Glad that things are looking up!

If your house gets so clean that you find yourself sitting around bored, looking for something to do, my house could use some of that spring cleaning too!! :)

Amber said...

I'm thinking that Saturday will be my day to unplug and scrub.

I'm so glad to hear about your good mail day!! Nothing like a great pick-me-up! And a new Vera Bradley...oh, girl!!! :)

Anonymous said...

Mer,
Thanks for all the sweet things you said about me!! I love you dear friend and it made my day to know that I made YOUR day. Glad I could do something to cheer you even though I am so far away. Have an awesome Mother's Day.
Joan

Megan O. said...

I love what you wrote about your friend. I wish I were that kind of friend--so thoughtful. It doesn't come naturally to me, but it's something I'd love to be. I guess I should be praying about it! :) Yay for accomplishing so much and for being able to have all the windows open--I think I get so much more done with fresh air breezing in through my windows.

Gina said...

Wow! That is good mail. I wish I had a relationship with my inlaws, but language, culture, and distance make that virtually impossible.
I HATE to clean turlets, but I find myself "needing" to do it regularly these days. I guess that's the extent of my spring cleaning.

Mollie said...

Nothing Like it-Unplug and Spring clean- I am doing the same!!

Emily said...

Love Kris Allen! A good friend of mine was invited to a luncheon with him when he was in Conway.... so jealous!

His Girl said...

I wish I could love spring cleaning!I just can't but I am so proud of you for doing it! :)