Wow, time flies, doesn't it? I have been to CA and back, watched it snow, watched it melt ... yes, I am that boring! California, however, was not. It is February and I haven't been around in a long time!

I spent time with an old high school pal and her family as we prayed, remembered and loved from the waiting room her mother as she went through surgery. It was successful and the hospital staff and volunteers were happy to see us file out ... laughter and game playing, I suppose, isn't the rule of thumb in a cardiac waiting area. This family is so full of love and it is hard to not share that enthusiasm when with them.

My daughter, Julia, joined me in Sacramento - well, the Navy was nice enough to send her to a class there while I was there -- and we had a great time, visiting family, shopping and going to church. She is my rock and truly the wind beneath my wings .. I only wish I could have been her and am so proud of who she has become, with no help from me .. We were able to go south for a visit at the prison with Bill -- he was SO SURPRISED! Did a complete double-take when she said hello from behind him! We had an awesome weekend of visits with him, then I drove her to Long Beach for the second half of her conferences. Sadly, I had to leave her there and drive back to Sacramento the next day, but I had a wonderful week with her. She will be going home in a few days, her hubby will soon return from sea and she will have surgery on her shoulder. Would love to be there for her, hard to rectify in my old mind that she is a grown woman with her own family and just truly doesn't need me there to help her through it.

And now it is almost a month later (Julia's surgery went very well) and I am heading back to Sacramento -- what? Yes, I am more of a snow bird than the snow birds around here lately ... I will be in CA more than IA the first five months of 2009 for various reasons. So, tomorrow (Sunday) is March already and I haven't posted a word - work, pray, study, work some more and pray a lot more ... try to prepare for the next few months of whirlwind travel by making an extra dime (it isn't working very well) and no time for myself.

Speaking of snow ... it was snowing tonight. Wednesday we did a mini road trip and it was a lovely day - sunshine, no wind, high 50's - shirtsleeve weather for Iowans... last night (Thursday) it hit zero degrees, this morning (Friday) it started snowing and has been spitting all day. Scruffy loves it and was thrilled to go for his run when it was 17 degrees at the fairgrounds. I enjoy the snow, don't mind the cold, just want it to make up its mind. Mid-day today, sun was blazing through the windows and I invited Scruffy out for a tour of his favorite trees and limbs in the yard and toddled out the door, only to come tearing back in for a coat -- lightweight jammies just don't hold up to 40mph winds at below freezing temps!

Yeah, I know, didn't say much ... just wanted to bump my page an inch ... felt so lazy!

Somehow 2009 arrived when I was sitting here working. The people who call my phone continually said and still say, Happy New Year and I refer it back to them "you as well" and such as that -- I fear this and the coming years ... we shall see.

Iowa Transplant via Semi-Sunny California

A friend sent this poem to me tonight ... she is born and raised in the area and probably feels significantly superior to this California transplant when it comes to snow and ice -- I, however, take my dog out in sub-zero temperatures (he wears boots and I do wear a hat now that it is below zero outdoors) and shovel snow (usually with gloves on). I just wanted to share this little piece of Iowa philosophy with you all because although some of us CHOOSE to live here in Iowa because of the people, the beauty and the peacefulness, some of us are obviously STUCK! LOL

Winter time in Iowa!

It's winter time in Iowa
And the gentle breezes blow

Seventy miles an hour

At twenty-five below.

Oh, how I love Iowa
When the snow's up to your butt
You take a breath of winter

And your nose gets frozen shut.

Yes, the weather here is wonderful

So I guess I'll hang around

I could never leave Iowa
'Cause I'm frozen to the ground!