The Holidays

Well, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas have come and gone.

On Halloween I got to babysit my granddaughter.  She was dressed up for it but was a bit fussy that day.  We had just a few kids come to our door.

I started a new office job the week before Thanksgiving.  It is a receptionist/data entry person.  So far I am loving it.  I did have to work Thanksgiving evening at Target.  I usually see my brother and his family at noon.  This year they had dinner in the late afternoon.  Since I was working I didn't get to see them.  My daughter and granddaughter came over after being with the other family.  I saw them for only a hour then had to leave for work.  Not my most enjoyable Thanksgiving.

Once again, I had to work Christmas Eve at Target and missed church and seeing my brother.  Since Christmas Eve was on a Sunday, I did go to church in the morning.  Work was slow.  My daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter came over for Christmas Day.  It was a  great day but cold.

I have not seen my horse due to the cold temperatures.  The boarding facility owner tells me she is doing well.  I hope it warms up soon and I can see her again.

I have been taking a few pictures with my camera but not alot.  That is due to the weather.  Since it is winter now and we have had little snow, the scenery outside looks blah.  Now, it is too cold.  I need to find places inside and the time.

I hope everyone had a healthy holidays and enjoyable ones.

MercyMe - Lifer (Audio)

My New Hobby - Photography

https://gurushots.com/achievements/colors-of-autumn/mary.bradley?tc=88ec22e95197acffc7b300d342788409

New Beginnings

I start a new office job next week as a front desk receptionist.  It is part-time so no benefits but allows me time to see my horse, exercise and maybe see my granddaughter.  I am very nervous but excited.  I will be gone from my husband who works from the home, and my youngest who is home three days a week.

My son still hasn't gotten a full time job.  I believe that he will have to go back to school for a different career.  This job market still sucks.

I joined a website for photographers called gurushots.  They have challenges that you submit four photos to.  The challenges can last for a month and follow photographers vote on the photos.  At the end whoever has the most wins.  I have been getting a lot of votes and am pleasantly surprised that that many people do like my pictures.  I guess I have some talent.

The holidays are almost here, second ones without my mom.  Not sure if I want to continue working at Target since they open Thanksgiving evening.  Next time I write I will know what my future will be.

Last week I had three interviews.  I received a call for a job offer and email.  It is only part-time so no benefits, but it is not retail.  I am 99% sure I am going to take this position.

My son had a interview two weeks ago but didn't make the cut.  He keeps applying but no calls and there aren't that many openings for what he wants to do.  He just keeps plugging away at being a sandwich artist.

My granddaughter is two months old.  She is adorable.

I have been having fun with my cameral.  Here are a couple of pictures.

Same old, same old

Nothing has changed in our family.  I still can't get a different job.  I did have a temporary assignment but it only lasted three weeks.  They didn't have enough work for me.  I don't know why they even called the agency asking for help.

My son is still looking for another job but working at the sandwich shop.

My horse is still healing.  We don't know if we will ever be able to ride her at more than a walk.  Not sure if I made the right decision to treat her versus putting her down.

The bright spot is when I get to spend time with my granddaughter.  In a couple of weeks will be the first babysitting time.  Yeah!!!!!!!!!

I am loving the cooler temperatures of Fall along with the changing colors of leaves.

Until next time......

New and old beginnings.

I am still at Target but am currently also doing a part-time temporary assignment for a distribution warehouse company.  My son went back to work at the sandwich shop he use to work at.  He still can't find a job with his major.  My horse is still recovering from her injury but she acts like nothing happened.

The biggest news is our granddaughter was born last week.  She came two days early.  Yeah.  Selah is a good size baby and doing just fine.  Now the time to spoil has come.

Long Summer

Summer is almost over here in Minnesota.  Our State Fair started today.  In two weeks kids will be back at school.  Some have already started.  Our temperatures weren't very warm this summer though that is fine for me and my horse.

I left my front desk receptionist job in June and filled in the days with working at Target.  Ouch, my body at my age can't take this anymore.  I have applied to many places and have only had interviews for five.  That is about a 3% of all the places I have applied to.  I just don't get it.  This job market sucks.  My son can't get a job using his Creative Writing major either.  He has applied for content writer, copy writer and anything where they want that degree.  Everyone wants a lot of experience.  How do you get that?

The positive to this summer is that my horse's tendon injury is 80% healed after only six months and two shock wave therapies.  This horse will never be able to compete again and maybe never ridden at a canter.  But, she can be ridden and seems to be pain free.  Now it is just a matter of when she will tear it again and have to be put down.

My youngest has finished her internship and starts her last year of college. She has a part-time job for during school year and then a full time job when she graduates.

We are expecting our first grandchild the beginning of next month, September.  I don't feel like I am old enough to be one but my oldest is old enough to have a child.  It will be fun but won't see the grandchild much as I will be working still.  Not old enought to retire yet.

Hopefully the next time I get on my blog I will have a Monday thru Friday job, my son will have something and I will have a granddaughter.

Walking in God's Garden

I have been reading books that were in my parents house after my mom passed away.  My dad was the main person that bought these books and read them, but my mom did read some of them.

I was reading one particular book titled Walking in His Garden.

The chapter about the whole Bible in context has a paragraph about forgiveness.  There are so many interpretations about forgiveness and forgetting and not holding a grudge.  This chapter talked about a time to forgive and a time not to forgive.  Forgiveness is conditional in that it depends on the willingness of sinners to acknowledge and believe what God says about their sin.  The Bible also tells us that we should not freely forgive those who have knowingly sinned against us but have not shown remorse.

My question with this is that:  how often does a person know that they have sinned against another person?  How often are they purposely sinning to another person?  What constitues a sin?  Hurting them?  Lying to them?  Stealing from them?

Aren't we suppose to forgive for ourselves and not for the other person?  Are we to forget what the other person did and make amends?  Doesn't God always forgive?

God doesn't forgive us if we don't forgive others.  That is one that makes sense to me.  But to have God not forgive us if we aren't sorry for what we did?  I guess to a point that makes sense.  To me at some point we need to forgive or else it will rule our thoughts.  Now, God doesn't hold grudges and he does forget our sins.  Yet for humans if we continually let that person be apart of our life and their actions are always hurting us in some form; we need to remember that sin and distance ourself from them.

The fine line of human relationships and also the relationship with God.

More pictures

Week One of No Job

I had three doctor appointments this week along with getting my haircut.  We had a technician over for our internet along with a designer to help with our patio and side of house.  I played around with my camera and here are some more pictures.

Playing around with my new used camera

Second job down the tube

I quit another job.  I couldn't take the long commute anymore.  In addition, with one particular doctor you would have so many patients checking in or checking out that you wouldn't get a break until your meal.  I would make too many serious mistakes.  I lasted as long as I could at this one.  Back to just Target again.  I have already been applying but no interviews yet.  I really need something as Target can't give me enough shifts to make ends meet.  In addition, I don't have anyone paying to lease my horse since she is still not rideable.  My son still doesn't have a job so we are paying for all of his things.  Why is life so difficult?  It needs to be easier and more fun.

My horse did have another shockwave therapy.  The vet didn't do a ultrasound since it didn't look like the tendon hand healed enough to show anything and make it worth while.  The outcome is still the same of may never be able to ride her and may never full recover.  I wonder why I am doing this therapy to her when she may have a partially torn tendon.  If it doesn't fully heal the chances of tearing it again are high.  Decisions, decisions.

Our son's college graduation weekend.

Our son finally graduated college (except for maybe one class).  We are all so proud of him.  We left Friday afternoon.  After checking into the hotel we had supper.  We then went to his room and started packing his things.  While we were there our two daughters came to get there room card.

We went back to our room so we could change and sit in the hot tub.  The problem was it was warm and shallow.  The parents with little children decided to let them play there.  After a while we went back to the room.  The next morning we all had breakfast together at the hotel.  Our son had to leave so that he could be to class room for lineup.  We packed our suitcases and checked out.  We stopped off at the bookstore and by the time we got the gym most of the seats were already taken.  The ceremony was a little over two hours long.  We saw our son get his cover and then sit down.  After we had a small luncheon.  It was time to pack his room and have lunch.  After lunch was the three hour drive home with the stop at the scenic overlook that we never do because we always are in a hurry.

Here is a a couple of pictures from the perfect day.

All my son needs to do is get a job.

Andrew Bradley's links

http://www.smsuspur.net/ae/2017/04/20/mass-effect-review/

Not sure of this is his last article or if he has one more.  This weekend is the graduation ceremony.  Praying he gets a job.

End of Another School Year

This is the last week of college for our youngest.  She has just finished her third year of college.  We will be driving out to help her pack everything and then drive back home.  K. has a internship this summer.  After that, one more semester and then she is done.  Where has the time gone.

A has one more week left and then praying that he will be graduating that weekend.  If he does, he has worked hard for this.  School is difficult for him.  He seems to procastanite and not be motivated.  Then comes the difficult task of getting a job.  He has already applied at one place but he needs to continue with that.  If A does graduate, he won't be writing for his college's newspaper anymore.

I am not ready nor wanting to have a house full of people again.  I want to add another bedroom or family room to the house.

My horse is doing better.  Last week she got her hooves trimmed and new shoes put on.  I can't believe she put weight on that leg for all of that.  I hope that this summer I can take her on long walks and by this Autumn maybe even sit on her.  That would be over six months since the injury.  I can only hope.

Hopefully the next time I write it will be about our son's graduation ceremony with a couple of pictures.

My horse's recovery

It has been almost two months since my horse tore her tendon.  She know walks without a limp.  She won't pick up all her legs to have the hooves cleaned like she use to.  This week she had her shock wave therapy.  The vet said still no hand walking or anything all summer.  He still is not sure if she will ever be 100% rideable again.  I thought to myself "why did I just put her through this shock wave therapy then"?  We will see what the next two months will bring.

On another positive note, last night when letting her walk around in the small indoor arena, she trotted to the door because she kept hearing another horse neighing.  I really hope that I can at least ride her at a walk in a year.

I will keep you updated on the prograss of this long, slow journey.

Andrew Bradley's links - April Fool's article

https://www.indeed.com/jobs?q=creative+writer&l=Lino+Lakes%2C+MN&rs=1&fromage=last

Update on my horse's injury

Well, my horse is still recovering from her injury.  The vet did a ultrasound and there was a little bit of healing but still a substantial amount of tear.  He stated that I am looking at recovery of being a extra three months.  How much of a recovery is still in question along with if it will happen again.  I miss being on her that I want another horse to ride until I can with her if I will ever be able to.  The vet will be out again to do another ultrasound.  Here is to hoping that will be a lot more healing this next time.  Stay tuned.

Andrew Bradley's links

http://www.smsuspur.net/ae/2017/03/16/conversation-with-poets/

My horse's injury

Almost three weeks ago my horse tore a tendon on the leg that has the confirmation issue.  She won't due stall rest since she is a pasture horse now.  No riding or walking, just rewrapping her leg in a bandage and giving her pain killer medicine.  It hurts to watch her try to walk and limping because it hurts.

Today is the day that the vet rechecks the tendon and tells me what the future might look like.  I either want her 100 percent better or he suggests putting her down.  I just want her to be pain free.

To do this today I had to take four hours off from work.  It is stupid that just for one or two hours off you have to do four.  And, since I am still in the probationary period I don't get paid.

Updates will come after I meet with the vet.

Andrew Bradley's links

http://www.smsuspur.net/news/2017/02/24/professor-saara-raappana-wins-best-of-net-award-for-poem/

Andrew Bradley's links

http://www.smsuspur.net/news/2017/02/24/winners-of-telling-womens-stories-contest-announced/

Andrew Bradley article about Valentine's Day

http://www.smsuspur.net/commentary/2017/02/09/singles-awareness-day/

Andrew Bradley's links

http://www.smsuspur.net/ae/2017/01/26/new-netflix-original-the-oa-wraps-up-its-first-season/


After reading this review, I do have to say that this was a shorter one for this author.  There was not as much information and probably needed to be proofread before being published.  Maybe the author was sick or else had a lot of homework that needed to be done.  Looking forward to another one that has more depth to it like ones in the past.

New Job

I am two and a half weeks into my new job.  After the first week I wanted to quit.  I went to a different location and the same thing.  This week I am back to the same location as the first week and still kind of want to.  There is so much pressure, so many different people training and never any breaks.  The location I applied to is no longer the one they want me to work at.  The one I am to be working at is farther from home and where my horse is boarded at.  

Ugh!!!!  I don't know what to do.  This is the second company that has changed the position after offering it to me.  I just don't get it.  We kind of need the money and Target is so hard on my body.  But to spend all my time at work or commuting isn't really helping with the finances. 

I think I will try to work at this company longer so that it looks great on my resume then start applying again.  This will be good for the finances also.  I will see how long I can afford the gas and handle having no sleep.

Another New Job

I just completed my first week at a new job.  I started Monday at a clinic that deals with the retina of the eye.  I am a front desk medical receptionist.  

Of course, the first three days there was snow and made the traffic move very slow.  Some days I start at 7 and other days I can start at 8.  It was very overwhelming and I still feel like I know very little.  I trained at one location and next week I will be working at the location I applied for.

Tomorrow I work at Target.  I have a short shift and am happy for that.  Right now Target has few payroll hours and I only get one day to work out of the weekend.

My children are back at college so it has been nice for my husband having the house to himself.

My son has four classes left to take.  Praying he passes them and then he will graduate from college in May.  He will then be looking for a job.  Praying for that also.

I know that God has answered my prayers.  But, I will see how long I am at this company.

The Holidays

We celebrated the second Thanksgiving and Christmas without my mom.  It was the first without my mother-in-law.  We had Thanksgiving at my daughter's house with her husband.  For Christmas Eve, I did work but was able to go to church with my family and my brother's.  After that, we went over to their house for supper.  My daughter and son-in-law weren't there.  My brother's oldest daughter and husband weren't there.  His other daughter and boyfriend were there.  It was nice.

Christmas Day was just our family.  It was a lovely meal.  It rained, and rained and rained.  The temperature started dropping and the winds became stronger.  By the next day there was ice almost every where along with gusty winds.

I worked New Year's Eve and then spend the evening with a friend.  We watched When Calls The Heart on Netflix.

The kids are back at college.  The routine is back.