Field trip to another Mission and to the top of the world

Good Morning!  The weather is overcast!

This picture was taken at Mission San Juan Capistrano!  The gardens are in bloom!

Today is our field trip day and Mari and I are going out to Pala and possibly go to Palomar Observatory.  I really enjoy our field trip days.  This morning I was looking for a walk to do in Seal Beach and found a website and app called Map My Walk.  It is surprising the little things that excite me.  Doing my morning computer routine.  Mari made pancakes this morning.  YUMMY!

Did laundry and then got a nap and then Mari and I took off for Pala and the mission.  We made a stop to get us food and to get my car some gas.  Pala is on an Indian reservation and it is so interesting to get off the freeway and head back into the country part of California.  There is a casino and hotel in Pala, that seems so totally out of place.  We walked around the mission for a little bit.

From Pala, we decided to drive up to Mount Palomar and see the observatory.  Unfortunately, the observatory closes at 4 and we got there at 3:58.  After that we headed for home.  It was a nice day out.  Picked up dinner on the way home.  I walked in the house and Rory was watching Jurassic Park and had it on loud.  I talked to Mari this morning about how we all feel when Rory comes downstairs and watches TV with us, we all feel on edge and part of it is that Rory and I get into arguments.  I decided to honor what Mari said and told Rory if he is was going to stay down here and have the TV on that loud, I would go upstairs and eat my dinner.  He said he would go upstairs, as the movie was over.  I crave peacefulness.  I don't mind noise, but to have screaming and yelling on the TV, I don't handle really well.  The girls and I watched TV and had dinner.  Marissa did dishes and went upstairs for the night.  I am going to do things I enjoy until 10 and then I am going to bed.  Mari is doing school work.

Good night!  Trudi

Surrender and letting go of control

Good Morning!

It is overcast this morning and the birds are singing!  I am very glad it is Friday and I have really nothing to do the next couple of days.  I have a tour this morning and I am meeting someone for lunch after my tour.

I really believe that part of the issue in my marriage is control and I have also been reading several devotionals on surrender.  Early this morning, Rory totally closed the curtains in our bedroom, even though they were already closed.  He would love to have every room dark and I love having the light.  My initial reaction was to put the curtains back to where they were, but I realize that was controlling and being selfish and I should not do that.  I am selfish in many ways.  Lately, I have been talking to God about showing me what it is like to totally surrender to God.  I guess this is one of the ways he was showing me.

After I get home this afternoon, I am going to take a nap and then we will see where the rest of the day goes.

The tour went fine, but I am learning that after a while, the kids get distracted.  They were a good group of kids and asked a lot of questions and really seemed to enjoy the Mission.  Even the adults seemed interested.  I am really learning to be flexible with these tours.  After the tour, I met my friend for lunch, which was nice and I made a wise choice with a salad.  Came home and took a nap and spending the rest of the day at home, which is nice.

It was nice to spend at least part of the afternoon, doing my own thing and not having to go somewhere.  Somehow, I need to get a balance between going and staying home.  I like being busy, but I also like peacefulness!  I crave the peacefulness!  Mari decided to take a nap, so when she was not up by 5:30, I made dinner for all four of us.  The girls and I watched TV.  Rory came downstairs about 7:30, while we were watching "Dead Files".  When he comes downstairs and is watching TV with us, I get tense.  He has a tendency to make silly comments about the program or he wants to listen to the ads, which I find stupid.  I got Rory a camera for his trip and other trips he takes and I need to make the time to show him how to use it.  I get comments about how this is not a good time or that is not a good time and when it is a good time for him, it is not a good time for me.

I am spending till 10 p.m. upstairs doing my own thing, which is nice!

Good night!  Trudi

Peacefulness

Good Morning!

 The sun is out and the birds are singing and Sweet Pea is laying in the sun.  The house is relatively quiet as the girls are still sleeping.  I have a doctor appointment at 11.  My doctor wants to see me every 6 months, as I am on a minimal dose of blood pressure medication.  Last night, I checked my blood pressure and it was normal; check my blood sugar level and it was where it should be and my weight is at the lowest I have been on this journey of weight loss.

When I get back, I will get lunch, take a nap and do some errands.  I am mailing a couple of things, that I don't use to a friend, who I know will enjoy them; plus a birthday card.  I have some more things to do with the storage unit and I know Mari has some errands to do.

Today, I feel a sense of peacefulness, which is nice.

Left about 10 for the doctor and I am glad I did.  Missed a turn and the elevator was being slower than normal.  She was very happy with my progress, as I have lost 12 pounds since October and my blood pressure was down.  I am to see her in 6 months.  Came home and made lunch and then took a nap.  Mari and I left to go to the mail center and then headed for Orange to do some walking and to look for a workmans lunch pail.  We found what she was looking for, but she will have to repaint it.  Got our walk and then drove home and stopped at Trader Joes on the way home.  Mari made our dinner and I made Rory's.  Watched the rest of the DVD of Abraham and Mary Lincoln.  Doing my nighttime routine.

Going to bed at 10.  For the rest of the evening doing my night time routine.

Good night!  Trudi

Decisiveness

Good Morning!  It is windy, sunny and slightly warm this morning.

A couple of weeks ago, when I picked up Mari from school on a Tuesday night, she told me that she was going camping in Joshua Tree.  That is something we normally do not do in this family.  When I was growing up, I was in the Girl Scouts and I did camp, but it was not one of my favorite things.  The first time I went to Europe, the group I was with camped for 42 days.  Anyway, one of the teachers, who teach photography, decided he wanted to go to Joshua Tree, as it does have some beautiful wildflowers and rock formations.  It is a place I have wanted to go and so has Mari.  Mari's videography teacher and typography teacher decided they wanted to go.  The problem is that these two classes are on Tuesday and Mari does have a class on Monday nights and on Wednesday mornings.  It is a three hour drive from here to Joshua Tree, so it is going to be a long day.  They have been trying all sorts of ideas of when to do this.  Mari and I and her  teachers on Monday and Wednesday are not thrilled with this, as it is affecting a number of students in each of their class, plus we are getting close to the end of the semester.  Yesterday, there was a lot of discussion about how this was going to work. A friend of Mari's was/is going out on Monday night and stay the night.  The girls would not get there until 1 a.m. and how much sleep would they get and then have to drive back on Tuesday night and who knows when they would get back and then have to be up the next morning for school.    Not many people were making firm commitments and the teachers who are planning this, are not being real decisive about things as well.  I asked Mari what time she would want to leave on Tuesday morning and would she like me to drive and she said yes!  Yes, it is going to be a long day, but something I would like to do.  We are going to leave about 8:30 a.m. and get back about 10 p.m.  Rory and Marissa are going to have to take care of themselves and Rory has accepted that.  I just wish this would have been planned a little earlier in the semester and people would be more decisive.  That is one of my pet peeves, as I am a planner.  This will take place in a couple of weeks.

I have a meeting at the Mission this morning and the rest of my day is doing home stuff and getting a walk.

Left the house at 10 and headed for the Mission for a meeting for all of the volunteers.  Interesting things!  The woman who headed the meeting, I have a lot of respect for.  She was talking about accomplishing goals and the way she put it, I felt like I could do this at home.  I need to learn to be patient and know that some of these are not going to happen overnight.  She has been at the Mission for 10 years and has just finished accomplishing the big goals.  One of the things that they want to do in the next year, is to see if an original painting that is in Serra chapel can be saved.  A copy of the original was put over the top of the original and now they want to take down the copy and see if the original is worth saving.  If it is, they are going to keep it in Serra chapel and allow the public to watch it be saved.    Exciting things!

The gardens at the Mission are in full bloom!  I have never seen this color poppy before!  Got lunch on the way home.  Rory wanted to talk and then I took a nap.  Went to the storage unit and worked on it for a little bit.  Since I have finished the budget, this is my next goal.  Yes, Marissa and I are going to do a pet sitting online class as well.  I also went to Target.  Came home and put things away and I am now working on my pictures.  Need to get dinner, but wanted to do this first.  It has been a good day.  I am concerned about Rory, as he said he fell on his back in our bedroom, but the girls were home and heard nothing.  Will talk to the orthopedist on Monday.  Recently he also closed his thumb in his car door.

Made dinner with some help from Mari.  Mari and I watched part of a DVD about Abraham and Mary Lincoln. I love watching these, as it puts more of a person with a name.  Doing computer and reading stuff for an hour, then we will watch "Haunted Collector" and then I am going to bed.

Good Night!  Trudi

Being content!

Good Morning!  It is a beautiful sunny morning!

Today is my busy day!  Take Mari to school at 9:15 and then I am going to go walking in Dana Point.  Come home, eat lunch and take a nap.  Take Marissa to counseling and then, I think I will take a walk over at the Back Bay of Newport Beach.  When we get home, we will get dinner and then, around 9, go back to pick up Mari.

I like to get things done, but I have to be content with what I can or cannot get done today.  We did leave around 9:15 and drove down El Toro as, they were going to close part of the 133 to investigate an accident that happened last week.  Got Mari to school on time and then I went to Dana Point and did my stairs walk.  The last couple of days I have been taking my good camera on my walks and just enjoying taking pictures. I have been working on doing macro shots and just opening myself up to what I see.  It has been nice to do things by myself.  Came home and had lunch and took a nap.  Rory, of course, wanted everything done NOW!  After I took my nap, I took Marissa to her counseling appointment.  I went to the Orange County Museum of Art to take a picture of a statue of a dog that is supposedly doing his business on the side of the building.  Will put up the picture another day.

Did a little bit of walking and got Marissa and me something from Starbucks.  Came home.  While I was out, Rory calls me and has to tell me every little thing that has been going on, in regard to getting money for disability.  I know it is frustrating, but I don't need him calling every two minutes.  I am going to put my phone on vibrate or something.  Made dinner and doing computer stuff.  In about 30 minutes going to go down and pick up Mari.  I am not as tired tonight as I was last night.

Good night!  Trudi

A busy week of tours, school and a doctors appointment for me

Good Morning!

It is windy and overcast this morning!  Sweet Pea, Mari and Marissa are still sleeping, so, overall it is a quiet house.  I have a tour at 10:15 this morning and Mari has school from 4-10 this afternoon.

I have two tours this week, Mari has school today and tomorrow and I have a doctor appointment on Thursday, as well as a meeting at the Mission on Wednesday.

Left the house at 9:15 a.m. to get to the Mission.  Did my tour and then headed for home to get lunch, take a nap and do my morning computer routine.  The girls and I are leaving at 3:15 to take Mari to school and then Marissa and I are walking Balboa Island.  Rory went to Social Security, got maintenance on his car, partly for me and the girls and my trip, as we are taking his car.

It turned out to be just me taking Mari to school, as Marissa was dealing with her nauseousness and just wanted to stay home.  It was nice to go out and be by myself and stop and take pictures.  In some ways, I feel like I am doing everything everyone else wants or needs me to do, so it was nice to stop and take pictures when I wanted to take pictures and not hurry up and get some place or do something.  No guilt!  On the way home, I stopped at Trader Joe's and got some things and then drove home.  Rory called me twice on the way home.  Argh!  Had dinner and watched TV when I got home, finished my computer routine, started a load in the washer and now I am going to edit pictures.  Need to leave in about half an hour to get Mari and then I am coming home and going to bed.

Good Night!  Trudi

Our living room was done and we could continue to live!  One year ago!

Expectations and guilt

Good Morning!  It started off sunny, but now we have overcast and foggy!  I am enjoying a quiet, cool morning!

This last week has really affected me, with the two teens being lost in Trabuco Canyon and then being found, thank goodness!  Also the death of my pastor 's son from mental illness and depression.  My husband deals with Asperger Syndrome and OCD and narcissism and, I also wonder if he is bipolar!  Marissa deals with Asperger Syndrome and major anxiety.  I put a lot of expectations on myself and I am hard on myself.  Marissa is easier to deal with than Rory, as Rory is very negative and puts people down, including me.  This is not love.  I love Saturdays, when I can get away and do something I really enjoy.  I have a much better attitude the next day, it also helps my body.  If I don't do something right, I feel guilty and I know I should not.  I love both my girls tremendously and I would do anything for them.  I wish the world would understand mental illness and how hard it is on the people who have it, as well as the people who live with that person.

Today, I will be separating laundry and trying to do at least one load.  I am not going to feel guilty if I don't get one load done.  I am going to get a menu done for the week and marketing done.  If I can get anything else done, I will be happy and not feel guilty.  Today is Sunday and I know there are services, but I really just feel like staying home and not having to be somewhere at a certain time.  I am not going to feel guilty!

One load in the washer, a nap, morning computer stuff done, a menu made, marketing done and now I am going to work on finances and after that I am going to do something fun!  I got done what I wanted to, with finances and presented a budget to Rory, which went well and I was surprised.  He may come back at me later, which is typical.  Made dinner.  Now that I am finished with budget, Marissa and I can start taking a class on pet sitting.  YEA!  Mari and I had dinner together and watched TV, while Marissa watched TV in her room and Rory watched TV in his room.  I got my picture of the day edited and things done.  Overall, a good day!

Going to do reading and go to bed at 10!

Good night!  Trudi

This is the Lawrence building in Santa Ana, CA