New Year's Eve

 First things First: I do not make New Year's resolutions! I do my best to improve myself in some way every day! I will write three gratitudes daily and at least one thing I'm personally proud of for that day. It isn't a resolution because I've already been doing it for the past couple of weeks. It helps me reflect on the day, what went well and what I could have done better. 

Last year I made ToDo lists.  I rarely did this in the past.  I've found it a beneficial process.  A few things have been on that list for at least four months.  One of those tasks is to repair the fireplace.  I ordered a new gas regulator, received it, and when I went to install it, the fittings were all wrong.  The part number was almost identical.  I've tried eBay, Craigs List, and Amazon - all to no avail.  I will now contact a fireplace repair shop and see if they may have the correct part. The main gas solenoid is not working.  The pilot light works fine.  So, I have some next steps for that item.

Another item on the ToDo list was on it for a year! Repair the bedroom corner drywall.  I finally got to that a week ago.  It took one year to get to it and five minutes to fix it! 

Overall, reflecting on the past year, things have gone wonderfully well.  We have been able to help children and grandchildren when help was needed. I really enjoy our new car, a Toyota Avalon Hybrid! We named it Sparkie - we named every vehicle we've owned. It helps personalize them and helps me remember they need maintenance! Rosie, our Hyundai Elantra, now has about 198,000 miles on her.

Carolyn and I are doing more volunteering.  We volunteer for Pawsitivity, An organization that finds foster parents for parents whose owners are in recovery. We see this activity very rewarding, we are helping someone in need, and their pets have been good for us! For example, I've started walking from one to three miles a day because the dogs need exercise and a place to poop! We always have extra poop bags with us. Most trails in our area have locations for dispensing these bags and a bin for placing the filled bags.  There are also laws concerning this matter.

Our other volunteer activities revolve around the Bruno Groening Circle of Friends. These volunteer tasks keep us very busy in a very positive way.

I've learned several new software applications, a new treasury system, SnagIt, and Camtasia.  I've made my first couple of YouTube videos.

I've become a better cook. I'm willing to try new recipes and make mistakes while doing them. About mid-year, I made a goal to get myself healthier.  I weighed in at 196 lb. I now weigh 159lb. That is one thing I'm very proud of.  I feel a lot better. My bowling average increased from 150 to 170 (nothing to do with weight loss). I only made a little improvement at golf. 

Most importantly, our family relationships have become much stronger. We started doing family nights again, and those have been great!

I wish you the very best in the New Year!  Live now, the past is gone, and the future is not yet here.  Someone once said, "One needs to live like always is now!"

Tomorrow is New Year's Eve!

 Carolyn and I took down most of the Christmas decorations today. The tree is still standing!  The wreath is between the garage doors.  We turned the decorative light off but have yet to bring it into the house.  We decorate less and less every year.  We had a fantastic family night the Friday before Christmas eve. 

I just received a lovely letter from Uwe.  I have not shared it with the family yet, but will.  This has been a year of learning and personal growth.  I've increased my volunteer efforts. It is definitely time to give back.

I'm working on several personal projects; cleaning up my photos, making videos for YouTube and the kids, improving our home, journaling, writing, blogging again, exercising more, considering taking in foster cats as well as dogs, and considering some travel. This is an exciting time. I am never bored!

My relationship with God has been healed. I have found my Spiritual path again! This has opened my heart to more of what we have been given, so much more to be grateful for, and so much more to learn.  Today I heard something that is so very meaningful. "Each time you look into another person's eyes, you meet God!" That is such a powerful observation - I believe I have experienced this but never realized the truth of it. 

I find myself experiencing more moments of joy, moments like this. Carolyn, Jeremiah, and Bishop - of course, there is also Bella, our current foster dog.  We don't see a lot of Jeremiah and Bishop.  Jeremiah has faced a lot of challenges over the past three years. He has preserved, and now we see more of him because he is open to it! I know our prayers are being answered in the way that is right now.  Sometimes we fall into the trap of expecting our prayers to be answered immediately! Bruno and God know when the time is right.  We pray for the best possible outcome for all situations and at the right time, not our time!

My Mind is Blank - So is this page! Think of the Possibilities!

 

I've got this thing about Squirrels!

Squirrels, they fascinate me.  I have over 100 photos of these critters, from Iowa to Colorado and probably a few other places.  I also have oodles (that's lots) of video clips!  I'll have to make a few YouTube videos.  

My mom and dad told me a true story about a squirrel family that was being evicted from their home.  They lived in Montezuma, Iowa.  They built a home on a corner lot in the North corner of town, a cattycorner from the Dairy King.  There was a huge tree on the South side of the house.  (trying to find a picture of it; when I do, I'll pop it in here)

Anyway, the story goes the tree had to be taken down.  Somehow the squirrels knew, or tree destruction had begun, and the momma squirrel moved her kits (if that is what they are called - I'll have to look that up as well) to a safe place.  She grabbed them by the nape of their neck and, one by one, moved them to a safe location!  That's what moms do!  They try and make you safe - especially in the animal kingdom.  I was in disbelief when she told the story, but know it was absolutely true. 

This blog still needs to be finished, but I'm posting it anyway.  Enjoy your moments and Mother Nature!

Remembering my first watercolor!

A Christmas scene from the past.  Dec. 1963.  Yup, I graduated in May and started college at the University of Iowa in June.  So, this was really my first holiday season away from home.  In my spare time, I played Bridge, read books by Edgar Rice Burroughs (Especially the John Carter of Mars series), and did some simple watercolor paintings.  Of course, I also studied, delivered papers in the Quadrangle, and worked in the Quadrangle Cafeteria. I gave this to mom and dad as a Christmas Card.

She still had it hanging on the wall in the basement for many years.  Maybe it still exists somewhere; I don't know. I'm sure I didn't imagine this Santa and this Reindeer scene.  I probably copied it from something. Fifty-two years later, thanks to my wife Carolyn and Sister-in-Law Susan, I took up water-coloring again.  Only to set it aside while dealing with the pandemic.

There are times I think about taking it up again!  Carolyn I both enjoyed it and we have plenty of time!

Live your moments with gusto! "Live, Laugh, Love"  Volunteer for something - Smile at a stranger!

All the best!, Lanny

 

Sunsets, Moonrises, and A few other things!

LEFFotos

December 23rd, 2022... what an incredible sunset. Carolyn called me into the Sun Room to see this colorful Colorado sky. I grabbed my iPhone and walked out onto the front yard sidewalk - I didn't even put slippers on. The concrete was ice cold - but I didn't notice~!
  

We definitely get some incredible sunsets and sunrises. I'm not usually up to catch those, but every once in a while, I do!

We also get some very neat Moon Lit evenings and nights. I took this one in late or early spring 2021. Had to go out in the street to get it. Looking into the sky over the front of our neighbor's home. Sometimes one is lucky just to be in the right place at the right time! Nature is such a beautiful thing - but it can also be, well, without me saying it. 

Other times it is just a well-framed landscape (personal opinion). The photo below was taken at Cherry Creek State Park at Cherry Creek Reservoir. January 2022. Just something that catches the eye and makes you think about lots or nothing at all, Just being in and enjoying the moment of the experience. You can see Pikes Peak in the background. That is what caught my eye. Carolyn and I were in the car looking almost straight South. A lonely bench, a beautiful leafless tree, a frozen lake, a distant shore, and the Rocky Mountains all in one. The phrase "stop and smell the roses" comes to mind.  I'm finally learning to do that, and it is a joy!

Enjoy all your moments, no matter where you are or what you are doing.  You only get them once - well, unless you can take a picture of "that moment." and enjoy it again later.

Happy New Year!

Bella and Other Christmas Day Thoughts

Bella is our third foster pet. Bella came to us about a month ago.  She is a Chiweenie, a Dachsund Chiwauwau mix.  She is a cuddler.  She doesn't like being alone.  We are taking care of her while her "parent" is in recovery.  Bella will be with us for another two to four months.  That is the longest period of time that we have had a foster animal.  Our first two were very large dogs; Tonks - a German Shepherd, and Sam, a Golden Retriever.  They've all had such different personalities. We do foster animals through an organization called Pawsitive Recovery It is a volunteer non-profit organization.

These animals have been very good for Carolyn and I.  I've actually started getting some decent exercise.  One must take their dogs for walks - for me, it is really the dog taking me for a walk.  Since starting this fostering, I've walked between one and three miles daily.  

We hadn't had animals in our home for almost 12 years.  We didn't even allow our kids or grandkids to bring their pets to our home.  Now pets are allowed.  Well, I do have a KOI pond - but not really the same as having animals in the house.  Speaking of KOI pond, aren't they beautiful.  I got a new pond heater this year because the old one shorted out.  This one is keeping the pond cleared of ice.  I digress!

We've had an absolutely joyous Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  We got up early and opened gifts.   We were both very surprised that we actually had gifts under the tree!  We make the typical promise to not get each other anything - we never keep that promise.

This has been a time for celebrating healed family relationships. What a blessing and a gift this is.💡 put together some video clips of past Christmases... that should be fun! I'm starting to have a lot of fun doing these blogs and YouTubes, and Storytelling!  Live your moments with joy!  All the best to you and yours.

 

Christmas Eve 2022

 Well, I know it has been a while.  My daughter, Kindle, gave me this wonderful gift that is really encouraging me to write.  Storyworth! Storyworth for telling your story! I write a weekly story based on questions that Kindle and the other kids have chosen.  This experience really impacted me in a very positive way.  It has also led me to work with my photo albums again.  I've even started to do YouTube videos!  "Oh what fun it is!" to do these things again. There is a lot I want to share, and it is in my heart to do so.  

My life changed in a very positive, significant way in June of 2021, a little over a year ago - well, a half year over a year ago.  I've literally been gifted with "A path to a healthy body and soul" !  Carolyn had found this path over ten years ago.  I was slow getting on board.  There were many "excuses" , that I allowed that prevented me from accepting this gift. I will unabashedly speak about this subject, The Bruno Croening Circle of Friends. The path is a "natural connection with the life force"! We have always had this "force" and connection to God.  But I lost it, for whatever reason- and now I've found it again. I've learned that nothing is incurable and that I need to "Trust and believe.  The Divine power helps and heals!"  My experiences since I joined this Circle of Friends bears this out! (let me say right here this is not a cult, there are no dues, no pressures, no dogma or doctrine, totally non-profit, and everything is accomplished by volunteers and volunteering)  I do so with joy, love, and an open heart! You can find out more at Bruno Groening Organization .

I look forward to the remaining holidays and family experiences of the year 2022, writing more stories, family visits, fostering more animals, and life!

Enjoy and live all your moments to the fullest!

We Wish You a Merry Christmas