April 2025 Life and Quilt Update

 

Our theme this year, CHAOS TO CONTENTMENT!!!  I don't know about anyone else, but I have lost my way lately.  No drive, no ambition, no love of what I'm doing.  I "think" it has to do with being in a constant state of OVERWHELM!  I have not managed time well and wind up with crunch projects -which are never fun.  I've packed my list of "want to accomplish this month" so full that when surprises pop up that are either fun or an emotional wipeout - there is no chance of completion and then a sense of failure sets in.  Ugh.  After much thought on this and a great deal of chatting with the lady in the mirror - I've come up with this theme for 2025.  If you didn't get a chance to check out the post explaining it all --- here is the LINK to the initial post.  I'm looking forward to the direction this can take us all, but especially myself, if I give it a fair shot.  Sometimes stepping out of comfort zones is challenging, but it almost always allows for growth.  For the month of  April, I am continuing the purge.  I have made great progress, but have so much more to do.  What are your plans?  I'm feeling closer and closer to that contentment that is so elusive sometimes.  After a girls trip at the beginning of the month, it's back to selling and making progress.  I can do it.

Arizona Girls Trip - Days 9 & 10 (home)

 It's our last full day on the road and we have a lot of ground to cover.  We are checked out of the hotel, car is loaded and we're getting gas next door when I remember that I left my nightlight in the bathroom.  Sherri is still putting gas in her car and we make a quick drive back to the hotel to get the light.  Problem is, we didn't tell her and left her all alone in a pretty sketchy area -- ugh.

Arizona Girls Trip - Day 8

 The house is cleaned and we are packed into cars.  Everyone is back on the road again.  Debi took a flight back home and Ramona, Sharman, and Linda are on their way to the Grand Canyon.  That just leave two cars and five of us.  We have a fun route planned for the return trip and when we get to Camp Verde, a breakfast break is in order.  Thanks a latte fits perfectly.

Arizona Girls Trip - Day 7

 Super excited for today.  When we were planning this trip, I found a hot air balloon ride that looked promising and several others joined in with me.  It's a bucket list item and finds four of us heading out in the wee hours of the morning.  We have to be at the meeting place by 5:15 a.m.  Yep - off we go into the darkness.  When we arrive at the meetup - soooo many people are arriving.  I thought it would just be our balloon, but apparently there will be many balloons going up today.  That's cool.  While we are waiting, everything is being loaded - I peek into the loading area and see the balloon baskets on trailers and vans are hooking up to them.

Arizona Girls Trip - Day 6

 What can I say?  It's another gorgeous day in Glendale.  Today, we are all out for breakfast together.  First Watch is the spot and that's a first for me.  I know we have one near our house in Dallas, but I've not been there.  

Arizona Girls Trip - Days 4 & 5

 We are ready to leave our house and drive over to the retreat center so we can get checked in.  There is a slight hold-up going on.  One that most of us are giggling over.  Sherri has locked her keys in her trunk after loading her suitcase.  Nice.  Apparently, a spare can be found.  

Arizona Girls Trip - Day 3

 It's a beautiful morning and we think we've outrun the cold.  Yep, it's actually pretty toasty out there now.  We're out of our house, fed and ready for adventure.  We have tickets for a steamboat, this afternoon, and thus are en route to it.  When I was researching this trip,  I came across a place called Red Knolls Amphitheater in Arizona.  Might as well check it out.

Arizona Girls Trip - Day 2

It's Day 2 and we are taking a bit of a scenic route due to a timed entry at Hueco Tanks State Park.  It's also a bit of a drive, so we are off and going at a decent time and with breakfast behind us, we make it to Pecos by a little after nine.  There is really  not much time for a stop, but we do grab a couple of boot pics along the way.  These are eight feet tall and there are more than 24 of them along the Pecos Boot Trail.  It would be fun to spend a bit of time and find them all.

Arizona Girls Trip - Pre-Night and Day 1

 Almost two years in the planning and our girl trip to Arizona begins tomorrow.  Tonight, Gwen and Cindy have arrived to spend the night and Mister is with us for dinner at Ephesus.