I need some help here...

I haven't written on "Blogger" for a long time because I started a blog with my own domain name 3 years ago. The problem is I paid for 3 years & it's due next month. The new charge is over twice as much because I do not get the discounted rate anymore.

My dilemma is what to do? Should I pay the money & keep going? Should I let it go & keep my domain for a later time? Should I transfer it all to another host which will have discounted rates for the 1st 1-3 years?

Truthfully, the real problem is this... My blog is not focussed. It is not about one thing. I have concerns if it's even been helpful to anyone. I only have 10 subscribers & not even sure they read it or like it. I will write my heart out for only 10 subscribers if I know it is helpful to them. I just need to know.

IF you read this blog, I would appreciate checking out: mariposafree.com before I have to shut it down. Let me know what you think. Be honest. I can take it. Do you think it's of worth to anyone other than my close friends, family or myself? Or... better yet, what do YOU like to read about. Even if I do keep my mariposafree.com blog, I want to re-vamp it so it is valuable, interesting & helpful and not just me writing about myself and my problems, journal-style, unless that is helpful to someone.

I know I'm breaking all the blogging rules that I don't even know, but I plan on re-posting this on my 2 other dormant free blogs and write something in mariposafree.com soon. I'm looking for input and yours is important to me.

Here are some ideas I've thought of to focus on:

-  Cleaning Tips
-  Just journal (practically what I'm already doing)
-  Short stories, excerpts of the book I'm working on, writing tips...
-  Guest posts
- Journalism articles, interviews...
- Photography...
- Good books I've read

Help me out here! My personality is so against doing just one thing. I have too many interests. Maybe there are 5 people that would enjoy a variety of subjects, but perhaps it could all fit together in one theme. Give me your vote  IF you read this. The first 10 new sign-ups (and the current ones) on mariposafree.com will receive either a free e-book of cleaning tips (when I get it done) or of a short story.  So, go over there soon because I may have to shut it down soon. 

Procrastination

I am supposed to be doing online banking, but instead I got distracted and found this old blog I haven't written on since 2014!

I have another blog now that I am trying to write on more.  You can find it here:  mariposafree.com.
I think for fun, I may write on this one just to see if anyone reads it.

My mariposafree blog started out with cleaning tips because we have a cleaning business and that's what I know about. I got tired of writing about cleaning and needed a break from it. Since then I've written on various subjects, which is not the way you're supposed to do it.

Because life got crazy and many unfortunate events happened (divorce of sons, youngest daughter leaving home, death of my horse, death of my niece, family problems) I have felt uncomfortable writing in the journal-type way. That's the easiest way for me to write, but I haven't wanted to bare my soul to people I don't know. I haven't wanted to bare my soul especially to those that I know.

We still have 1 horse and I am making an effort to train him more, and ride. It's been therapeutic for me in many levels. I still miss Lady, my chestnut mare, who died the end of December. I never spent as much time with Cloud, but it's going pretty well.

I have a lot to be thankful for. I am still married after almost 37 years. It's been rough in spots, but lately I've seen some calm and peaceful waters. Many of our adult children have come to visit this last year. G. has been here the most. He's come and gone and helped out in many ways. The most important way has been his presence. He also planted most of our garden last year and put up the deer fence.

I've traveled many times to visit other sons-daughters in the "Valley" and the coast. I miss having children at home, no matter their ages.

My dream is to someday go on a road trip with some of our family. After living in Mexico half the year for 8 years I got the traveling bug in me & maybe a little gypsy too. We have a stable life now, but do miss traveling!

That's about all for now. I'm curious to see if anyone will find this obscure blog with out a domain name. If you do find it, please check out my blog : mariposafree.com and I will my hardest to write more there. May the Lord of all the Universe bless you and help you to find His peace, joy, love & forgiveness.

Vacation

This is the first time, in a very long time that my husband and I have been able to get away for more than a day or two. This was possible because our daughter was able to cover for us this weekend for work.

The trip started out good, but I developed a migraine by the evening. Thankfully, it was short-lived and we were able to visit a couple of our sons that evening.

The next day we had breakfast with the same sons and a mutual friend. We spent time later letting God minister to us through music and praying for one another.

The drive to the coast went well. I did all the driving because I get extremely car-sick if I don't. It's a good thing I like to drive.

We visited some very close friends in Bandon and some other very close friends near Tucson, Arizona flew out and stayed with us. They stayed in the very cool yurt and we stayed in the very cute gypsy looking travel trailer.

The next day Greg went fishing with our Arizona friend and another young man. It was very nice to be eating a steel head fish that evening. It fed 7 of us nicely.

Saturday evening a bunch of folks came over and we had a small music festival it seemed. Our Arizona friend, Paco, played a song we hadn't heard that his friend had written. Another man led worship on the guitar. Other instruments joined in, bass, drums, tambourine, violin. A very uplifting time.

After the meeting, we visited with old and new friends.

The next morning I had a special time visiting with a special servant of God who has many stories and much wisdom to share. After that we ate a very nice Mexican breakfast of corn tortillas with cheese, cooked Salsa and eggs.

We headed back to Corvallis, but before that we stopped at the beach. We just walked on the beach and picked up pretty rocks and shells. I really enjoyed listening to the ocean sounds and feeling the fresh ocean air.

More time with our two sons and then we met another son and his expecting wife at a Thai restaurant in Salem. The food was great and I learned to say "Thank You" in yet another language. It was so good to see them. The time was short, but we enjoyed every minute of it.

After 9 pm, we headed another hour or two to stay with another son and his family. We stayed up till midnight visiting his wife and two lively boys.

Today is the last day we'll see everyone. Greg has taken their older son fishing, in the morning. Now, he and son are spending time together with the two boys. I am resting and writing.

Tomorrow we'll be back home and get back into our normal routine of work and home life. We are happy we were able to make the trip and visit everyone and see the beach. Life is good :)

I Want to Live Like That... song

I have been too busy to post anything. This morning I heard this song and it really is where my heart is right now, so I wanted to share it with all of you :) Mariposa

Time in Mexico

I left Oregon about 2 weeks ago. Our good friends from Catalina met me at the small airport. I spent 3 days resting and visiting them. I'm really glad to have had that time with them, since I only make it to Arizona once a year.

The bus ride was very interesting. A 17 year old young man sat by me. At first we didn't talk, but by the end of the ride he knew my story and I his. We had a lot of interesting conversation about various subjects. After he got off the bus I slept most of the way (as well as one can sleep on a bus). Sometimes I would wake up, realizing we were driving quite fast, or get very close to the bus in front of us. Because I was so tired nothing phased me and I slept OK.

My time at "Colegio Cristiano" , the school where Petra volunteers has been good. During the day I help out with lunch preparation and sometimes other small things needing done. Today I have been taking a lot of photo's with Petra's camera, which was fun.

There are a few extra teachers and helpers right now from the State's. That makes the load lighter for everyone. This year they've had a lot of extra help, many which have left and a few new ones recently.

We've been to the village in Sonora once and plan to go back this weekend. The girls' friend, Fernanda, is having her Cincinera on Saturday, which will be fun for us. It's nice going back to the house we lived in for 7-8 years, but kind-of sad, because it feels lonely there. Most of the "children" are grown and only 2 left at home now. They've also been gone, in Mexico 3 months, so I've missed them a lot and glad I was able to come down here for a month.

It's probably almost time to help in the kitchen, so I will close now. We might even go to Starbucks' before we go to the village this weekend!

Mariposa

                                                                   

                                                 

                                                                                      Susannah in the kitchen

Christy teaching a class          

                                                         

                                                                     The triplets of veinte uno

                                       

                                                                                         Carmen's tienda

                                                                      Carmen and me

                                                     

                                                                        Petra's class

                                         music class           

Falling Slowly

A day to rest

Hello family and friends...

All is well in our home. The weather has gotten cold again, but the woodstove makes the house cosy-warm all the time. We have saved a ton of money this year by using it.

Greg is still in Mexico. He left January 3rd and will return January 18th. He visited the Hawkins in Tucson for a couple of days, then rode the bus with Petra to Los Mochis. He's also been able to visit 21de marzo, the village where our house is, a couple of times. He's been visiting, but mostly working there, fixing things and getting things in order and line up things that need to be done there.

Work has been going well, even though Greg has been gone. He has a friend cleaning at the mill in Pilot Rock, so I don't have to do it. The girls have really helped and we have enjoyed working together without stress.

So, today we had the whole day off. We went to church this morning together, then came home and have been just resting. I joined a writing class and did my first lesson, a character sketch on a fictional person. It took me a lot of research, and work to get the class set up, but I finally got it done.

Matt Maher - Alive Again (Lyrics)

New Life Worship | Great I Am

Howdy from Texas

Greg and I are enjoying our time here in Texas. It's been so good to spend time with our son David son and his family. It's the first time in several years that Greg and I have gone on a trip together because of our cleaning business. This year our eldest daughter & 2 younger daughters are managing the business till we return.

It ‘s hot here, but not nearly as hot and humid as it is in Sonora in the summer. If you’ve ever spent a summer in Sonora you’ll know what I’m talking about. We’ve gone swimming twice at the community pool. It’s free and really cooled us off. I forgot how long it takes to go anywhere with a 2 year old and baby. It's an event, but even baby Sophia enjoyed the water. A little girl named Rebecca made friends with us, swimming under the water through our legs like a fish. 

David is an amazing cook at the grill. We have enjoyed 2 BBQ's with Zyanya's parents so far. Zyanya’s cooking is really good and I’ve gotten some ideas for when I go home.

 Sophia was getting fussy while I was watching her, but the kiddy pool cooler her off (and me too J ) 

All is well on the home front in Oregon. We'll have birthdays’ to celebrate when we return. They celebrated on the day(s), but we’ll celebrate again.

                                        Abuela Mariana with baby Sophia and Nathaniel    

(Don't) Let 'r Buck!

I Just got back from riding my horse, Lady. I have been working with her a little each day, but not riding much.

First, I rode around the corral a little, then decided to ride her in the big pasture where "Annie" her horsie friend was. The first time around went OK. The second time around Annie decided she wanted to race. Annie is between 25 - 35 years old, so I didn't think she would get going very fast, so I let my horse go faster. As she started in a gallop, she decided a little bucking would be fun (for her). I did have on a bike helmet, but only a riding pad.  I got my balance and squeezed my legs as tight as I could around her fat horse belly. They started to get shaky right away, but I thought, "I cannot fall off". So I hung on and slowed Lady down.

Whew.... she walked the rest of the way back to the corral. I told her she was still a good horse, but she needs to quit that bucking or I could get hurt!

Switchfoot - This is Your Life

What's been happening in my life?

Writing has been put on the back burner lately. I keep hoping I will have more time, but it's really a matter of priority. I only have a few minutes to write now. Today is Saturday and Greg and I are doing all the cleaning jobs by ourselves. We took a lunch break and will go back and finish most of the jobs by tonight.

Last week the girls and I traveled to the coast for one of my nieces wedding. It was really beautiful and I'm so glad we were able to go. I did go for a walk on the beach with my sister Caroline and neice Amber & her girl. It was relaxing and refreshing. This was one of the best family times together, even though it was short and not all the relatives were there.

We also enjoyed time with Titus, Ruth, Demetrius and Gabriel. I was so tired on Sunday I took a very long nap and missed out on time with Judah and Noel :( and other time with the girls, T & R.

The girls are visiting our dear friends in Bandon. They are having a wonderful time and I am missing them very much. I also miss the 3 in Alaska. I miss everyone, but that's life.

We are having a pretty good day working, not getting too excited about it. We stopped by and separated the horses and I washed my horse down. Of course she would roll in the dirt afterwards, but at least it cooled her down! After that we came home, I took a shower and made lunch.

Camping Trip

Our camping trip went pretty well. Saturday afternoon we drove up Pearson Creek to a rock pit, which is now a little pond. I think it's called Gold Fish pond. Anyway it was windy and cold. After we got camp set up, Greg, me, the girls and a friend of Greg's and his daughter (Clemy's friend) sat around a roaring fire trying to keep warm and moving alot, as the smoke kept blowing in our eyes. Eventually we all went to bed. It was pretty cold that first night and I didn't sleep really well.

The next day, Sunday, the wind had died down quite a bit. We had oatmeal for breakfast. The kids and Rod had those little packets of oatmeal. Greg and I ate raw oats with nuts and milk on it.

Then we drove up to 2 little ponds. It was really beautiful with the forest in the background, blue sunny skies and only a little wind. I caught 3 fish, Greg caught a couple and Clemy caught at least 2. Greg spent most of his time putting bait on our hooks, so he didn't really fish that much.

Later in the day many people from our church came. There was a BBQ with hot dogs and hamburgers and other food many people brought. The rest of the afternoon people fished and visited. Eventually I took a nap in the tent.

That night we all ate fish cooked in foil on the coals in the fire. It was really good!

It was a lot warmer that night, with no wind.

On Monday, the weather was really warm and nice. I spent most of the morning breaking down camp and packing our Toyota Previa. It's amazing how much stuff that mini-van can hold!

Greg got up early and caught about 10 fish! One was a goldfish, which we brought back in a bucket and put in our friend Randy's pond.

On the way back down the hill we stopped and found some rocks and walked across the creek.

When we got back we stopped at Randy's and Dominic helped us put the goldfish in their pond. After that I went by to see the horses. When my horse was drinking out of the trough I got on her bareback, with no bridle and rode her a little. I couldn't really control her, so I just let her walk around where she wanted to.

After we got back to the house I unpacked the van with Susannah's help. It took a long time!

Greg just left for work about an hour ago and I'm ready to take a shower and rest. 

Rainy Day

It's raining and I'm glad. When we get rain it is refreshing and makes everything green. I would rather have rain than gloomy cloudy days on end.

But... I do hope the sun comes out this weekend because we are going camping for the free-fishing days. :)

Family

It's been over a week since most of our family came to visit for Memorial Day Weekend. First, Levi and Susannah came the Wednesday before. Susannah had been in Texas visiting and helping her brother and sister-in-law before/after baby Sophia was born. Levi drove his old dependable Honda car. Levi had just got back from his trip to India, so we got to hear a lot of stories of that adventure too.

Next, Grandma Norma came, on a flight from Nebraska. Gideon, Susannah & Clemy went to Pasco to pick her up at the airport.

After that, on Saturday before Memorial Day, Titus and Ruth came with Demetrius and Gabriel. Judah, Noel and Gordon rode with them.

So, the missing ones were David, Zyana, Nathaniel & Sophia. They were missed!

We had a lot of fun, visiting, eating at home, (Greg did a fish-fry one day with the fish Grandma brought. The fish were ones that Greg's brother Jon caught), my birthday at Mazatlan restaurant. Judah, Noel and unmarried sons gave me a beautiful orchid. I had wanted one, but always a little worried I might kill it. I'll try to keep it healthy!

Now that it's quiet here (too quiet) I am trying to get back into a routine. I cut down a couple of my house-cleaning jobs to once a month. That's good, because last week we looked at 2 more. They are nice, because they are only a one-time-cleaning.

Our cleaning business is going well. We are not expanding right now, even though we have had opportunities to. It is simpler to stay family owned and operated. We do have one teen who does part-time help sometimes though.

I would like to add photos, but I will have to do that later.

So, what really happened??

My information was wrong about the Skinny white stallion. Gideon said he never even saw it. So there are 2 ways this can go. One is that Levi got bit, not Gideon. Two is that no one was bit and it was a fabrication of the imagination of a 10 year old boy. 

"old posts I found in Draft"

I just now noticed that I have about 11 posts or more that are saved in draft, but were never published! I guess I did the "preview" but not the post them.  They are all so old that I don't think I will publish them now unless I leave the same dates on them. I'll go through them when I have time & see if it's worth it or not.  :)

God's Favorites

God's Favorites

I was very happy
To see you today...
To see you are doing better.
I will keep praying for you.
Don't give up.
Hang in there.
God sees you-
He cares about your life.
Someone once said to me,
"You know, we're all God's favorites"
I will never forget that.
So, remember if you are feeling down,
You are God's favorite,
And so am I.

The Skinny White Stallion

This morning I went with 4 of the boys from the school here to help feed the neighbors horse. They were all excited to take me. When we got there I found a very skinny, angry & mean white stallion. They fed it scraps out of a container. It ate with angry eyes and even kicked at them. It was in a very small dirt corral with barbed wire on one side and old pallets on the other. I found out from the boys that this horse bit Gideon on the shoulder when he was there.

"Did it bleed? I asked. "Only a little."