An even BETTER week!

After my last post, Sheila informed me that she had received her home study approval!  Now the adoption process is REAL!!!  She has already sent in her paperwork to the US Dept. of Immigration.  After they approve it, she will submit her dossier to the Vietnamese government for approval.  We are still looking at MANY months of waiting, but it is great to see progress being made.  I received my passport about a week or so ago.  I am planning to go with Sheila to Vietnam!  I am SO looking forward to meeting my newest grandson and being able to see where he has been living.  We have a couple of fundraisers going on to help Sheila with the expenses.  There is a t-shirt fundraiser, which Sheila hopes to make a memory book about...showing everyone who purchased a shirt wearing them.  That way Josiah will be able to look back in years to come to see the people who cared enough to help bring him home.  To purchase a t-shirt, you can click on this link:  https://www.bonfirefunds.com/waiting-for-josiah.  We are also planning a yard sale on Sept. 17.  Friends have donated items to sell, as well as the things that I'm thinning out around here, and all of the money raised will be used for the adoption. 

All of my kitchen cabinets (innards) are finished!!!  Woo-hoo!  Dennis has gone to pick up the tiles for the back splash, which will be our next project.  Things will start looking very different from here on out.

pots/pans drawer

casserole dish drawer

assorted Pyrex dishes and strainers

spice drawer...I LOVE IT!!!

East wall of kitchen

I tried to get all of the kitchen in this shot.

West wall of kitchen

I LOVE VERTICAL STORAGE!
 

Highway Church of Christ will be holding our annual Fall Meeting on October 21-23.  We don't have all of the details worked out yet, but I'll be posting information on Facebook as it becomes available.  Our assemblies will be Friday evening at 7:00, Saturday at 3:00, and Sunday at 10:30 and 3:00.  Lunch will be provided both Saturday and Sunday at the Millsap Community Center, as well as snacks/dessert after the Saturday afternoon service.  Looking forward to a good weekend of fellowship and edification!

Just 2 more days until Labor Day Weekend Gathering!  We always enjoy our time spent at this special event.  There is always a ton of good food and a lot of great visitation.  This year will be extra special, because Teddy and Leslie's new baby will be there!  I'm sure Bellamy will be the center of attention. 

Well, I guess that about wraps up what's going on here.  I hope to see a lot of you this weekend!

A very good week!

I had a wonderful weekend with Sheila!  We went to FW, did some shopping, watched a movie and ate at a YUMMY Vietnamese restaurant on Saturday.  Then Sunday, after the morning service, we went out to eat lunch with Diane B, Jessica and the Shiflets.  Enjoyed our visit with them.  After the 2nd service, WE GOT TO GO SEE TEDDY AND LESLIE'S BABY!!!  She is adorable!  We all took turns (more than just once) holding her.  She slept through the whole thing.  She finally woke up ready to eat, so we got to watch Daddy Teddy feed her for the first time.  So sweet!  I am SO happy for this sweet family!  (And for Grandma Kay, aka Sassy!)

I got home that night just a little before the guys made it in from Spur.  They had a very productive weekend...got both the dishwasher and a/c installed, and filled the deer feeders.  They also killed a 4 ft. long rattlesnake and saw several horned toads.  Of course, Parker had a blast!  It was too wet (and they ran out of time) to re-erect his deer stand that had fallen over, so he'll have to make another trip out there soon.  He is planning to buy a new shotgun this weekend to take with him next trip.  He said they are having a bumper crop of quail this year!

This week, we have been able to concentrate on working on the kitchen for a change!  Dennis only has 3 drawers left, and they are a new design...so he is having to figure out how to install them.  Once he gets the first one (for my pans) worked out, the other two (kitchenware and spices) will go pretty smoothly.  Then he'll do my vertical pan storage cabinet, and all of the cabinet innards will be done!!!  Then we can move on to the finishing work...starting with the backsplash.  Things will really start to look different at that point!

My coffee station (which will eventually be in the dining room)

Kitchen linens drawer

I finally completed my knife drawer

My double decker silverware drawer

Hard at work!

Last week I didn't manage to get any walking done, with the traveling and rain.  So Tuesday morning, Dennis and I started back in on our 2 mile walks.  (I woke up feeling crummy from allergies on Monday.)  Dennis was mowing the grass last night, so I did my walk by myself.  I'm able to walk at a good, brisk rate now...enough to give me a good cardio workout.  My foot ended up pretty sore when I went to bed last night...had to use my anti-inflammatory gel on it to be able to sleep.  That stuff really works well though!  I should be ready for another walk tomorrow.  I really like being able to get in 3 walks a week.

Well, that about wraps up my week.  How was yours?

A very busy week!

There has been a lot going on this week, so we didn't get much accomplished in the kitchen.  Dennis' Uncle Hollis passed away last weekend, so we left Monday to go to his funeral.  Since Paris was practically on the way, we dropped by and visited with the family for a few hours.  The boys continue to grow more every time we see them.  Jesse is getting to where he can carry on a conversation now, so it is really fun to chat with him.  He enjoyed telling us all about their recent trip.  I had Skyped with the boys on Sunday evening.  I told Jesse that he needed to come see me.  He said he would get in the car and come "but not in the airplane".  I guess he wasn't very impressed with flying!  Ha!  Shepherd is growing like a weed!  He is about to catch up with Jesse!  He is learning new words all the time and can say a few sentences.  ("I love you" is my personal favorite!)  It was great to have some time to spend with them.  Mandy also prepared us a delicious supper, and then we were back on the road.  As we drove east, the setting sun cast the most amazing rainbow that I think I've ever seen.  It was a full arch and bright as neon...and a double!  The best part was that it stayed right in front of us for a LONG time...until the sun finally disappeared behind us.  What a blessing!

After the visitation and funeral on Tuesday, we headed back home.  It was about 8:00 before we made it home that night.  All of the time spent in the car allowed me plenty of time to work on Leslie and Teddy's baby blanket.  I got it finished last night.  I still need to press it before giving it to them...hopefully tomorrow.  I'm planning to go with Sheila to Henrietta Creek for services.  I always enjoy my visits over there!

I had court one day this week, plus a couple of CASA visits.  I also had another court report to do and turn in.  It seems like my court dates all fall close together, so that when one report is due, another one or two follow directly afterward!  Two of my cases should be drawing to a close by the end of September (I HOPE!).  We are just waiting on paperwork to be approved before adoption or PMC is granted.  The process takes much longer than it feels like it should, but I've learned that nothing happens in a timely manner in these cases.

Dennis left last night, along with Kyle and Parker, to go to Spur for the weekend.  He is taking Bobbie's new dishwasher out there to install for them, as well as work on stands and feeders.  They may even kill a hog, if the opportunity presents itself!  If time permits, Daddy and Bobbie are also wanting him to cut a hole in the wall of their bedroom and install a new a/c.  I really doubt they will have time for that this trip though.  Since he will be gone all weekend, Sheila and I are having a girls' weekend.  She came over last night, and we talked until midnight!  She has a CASA visit this morning, but we plan to spend the afternoon in FW.  She knows of a Vietnamese restaurant that she wants me to try out.  She is learning all she can about the cuisine and culture of that country.  We hope to learn to cook some of the most common dishes.

We made a quick trip to see Bobbie yesterday.  She is doing much better!  She was sitting in her wheelchair playing dominoes with Daddy when we arrived.  She is now is a "double" room, so that Daddy can stay all night with her.  She says that she is having very little pain (except for when doing therapy). 

We have enjoyed the rain and cooler temperatures this week!  The rain has also interfered with Dennis' work, but we did need it!  He moves his table saw outside onto the driveway to cut boards, so he has to stop working when it starts the slightest sprinkle.  He also can't go buy more lumber when it is raining, and he has run out of drawer making material.  Hoping for a few days of sunshine this next week...but also hope the cooler weather hangs around!

In spite of all the other things going on this week, Dennis still managed to make some progress in my kitchen.  He got the drawers to the left and right of my stove installed, which is a HUGE help!  He also started the facing on the final base cabinet, where my silverware drawer and drawers for casserole dishes will be.  It is so exciting to see how everything is going to look and to actually be able to store my things away in a handy and organized manner!  Here are some pics from this week:

I love having clutter-free counter space...and drawers!

This is my mini-pantry that holds all of the ingredients that I use on a daily basis...SO handy!

This is my miscellaneous drawer:  holds my measuring cups and spoons, hot pads and "junk".

My favorite drawer, so far.  It holds ALL my utensils in a neat, organized manner!

Hopefully this section will be filled in by the end of next week!



I love drawers!

This has been a long, busy week!  Dennis has made good progress on my drawers, in spite of everything else going on.  He finished building and installing the drawers in the dining room side of the bar.  (He is saving all of the "finishing" work until last, so the drawers are still naked!)  He started out using the same wood he built the cabinets of to make the drawers.  After figuring out how much that was going to cost, he decided to try using the stuff that the countertops were made from, since we had plenty of it left over.  It worked out fine, so we decided to go with the cheaper version!  I will be storing all of my "leftover" containers in this cabinet, so it is easy to put things away from the dining table after a meal.  Napkins and hot pads are also stored here for convenience.  Eventually my coffee machine will be on the countertop directly above these drawers, so I have all of my coffee making supplies in the top drawer. 

I LOVE having a drawer just for lids!

Now you know...I do NOT iron napkins!

Dennis also finished my knife drawer last night, just before bedtime.  I lined it with cork and started cutting out the pieces for making the knife holder.  I didn't get it finished, but I think you'll get the idea of how it will work.  I've been moving things into the drawers as he gets them installed.  It isn't exactly the way it will be when he finishes...I'll do some moving and rearranging as the rest of them get done.  It is SO nice to have things handy, for now, though!

Still a work in progress!

I reorganized my pantry on Monday.  I'm enjoying getting things lined out where I can go right to what I need.  I've got my little cabinet by the stove pretty much the way I want it, with my "everyday" staples right at hand.  My pantry design seems to be working well, too.  Of course, it will be tweaked as needed.  Dennis still has one more high shelf to add, plus he will extend the shelves around the sides of the pantry.  That will allow me even more room to put things!  I'm loving having all of this extra space!!!

 

 

Bobbie had her knee replacement surgery on Tuesday morning, so we were in Ft. Worth by 7:00.  I had a project that I was working on for the baby shower that I took to give me something to do while we were waiting.  (I'll share a picture after the shower.)  Things went well with the surgery...only took about an hour!  They had her in her room well before noon.

 

We spent Wednesday morning working around the house.  After lunch, I needed to go apply for my passport (Weatherford is the closest place), so we stopped there on our way back to see Bobbie.  It ended up taking a lot longer than I expected.  I had to wait in line for almost an hour.  I never knew so many people got passports!  I finally got through with that and we then spent a couple of hours sitting with Daddy and Bobbie.  She had a rough day that day...a lot of pain and disorientation.  They finally were able to get her comfortable, and she managed to get in both of her physical therapy sessions for the day.  We left around supper time and then had a date night...dinner and a movie.  It had been a long time since we'd done that.  The diversion was quite enjoyable (and needed!). 

 

Bobbie is doing much better now and is being moved to rehab sometime today.  I looked at the facility online, and it is gorgeous!  I hope she enjoys it and her therapy goes well.  She is anxious to get back home!

 

I've gotten in 3 walks, so far, this week!  I did our usual 2 miles Monday morning.  Tuesday evening, we walked out at the state park, which was really nice!!!  Then I did my 2 miles yesterday morning.  I hope to get another walk in either tonight or in the morning.  It isn't much fun in this heat, but it certainly is good for my foot, as well as the rest of me!

 

Tomorrow evening is Teddy and Leslie's baby shower.  I'm really looking forward to celebrating with them and seeing all of the cute things they will be getting for their expected little one! 

 

Well, I guess I'd better get busy with my day.  I'm feeling kinda lazy this morning!  Looking forward to some rain this weekend and cooler temperatures for next week.  Sure hope the weatherman is right about that!  These 104 degree days are getting old!  Take care and be careful out there!



August...ugh!

It has been a slow week as far as kitchen work goes.  Dennis has started working on drawers.  He has the gliders in for 3 drawers in my bar area.  He forgot to buy a router bit that he needs in order to make the drawers the last time he went to Rocklers, so he had to make a special trip back over there today to get that.  Hopefully I'll have a few operational drawers completed before the weekend is over!

Sunday was our regular 5th Sunday potluck and singing.  Donnie Wilson was our guest speaker.  We enjoyed having him and Tammy here to visit.  We really don't get to see them very often and enjoy it when we do!

We drove over to Haslet to meet with the Henrietta Creek church on Wednesday night.  It had been a couple of months since we'd last been there.  It was good to visit with all of them!  Teddy and Leslie had gotten news on their adoption this week, so we spent a lot of time talking about the baby, and baby showers and such.  Labor Day is also rapidly approaching, so we discussed plans for that, too.  Good times!

It has been a very stressful week for one of my CASA cases.  I've been very busy dealing with the different people involved in the case and trying to help however I can.  Things are not as I like them to be, but I'm hopeful that it will all turn out in the end.  Prayers are definitely appreciated!  (Sorry I can't give any details!)

Ricky turned 28 this week.  Sheila came over and we took him out for a steak dinner to the Mesquite Pit.  That boy does like steak!  We got him a tabletop easel and some new paints.  I can't wait to see what he'll do with them! 

I've gotten in a couple of walks, so far, this week.  I decided, on my walk yesterday, to do a little less intensity.  That really seemed to help with the pain level afterwards!  I feel like as long as I'm still getting in my 2 miles that it doesn't matter if I walk a little slower.  Maybe I can even walk on consecutive days this way.  I hope to try it again tonight and see how it goes.  The recovery progress is very slow and almost imperceptible at this point.  But I see little things that show that I am still getting better.  I noticed this week that my foot no longer hurts when I put on my sleeping brace at night.  It used to ache to the point that I needed to use anti-inflammatory gel on it...or even take some Tylenol.  But this week, it hasn't given me any trouble!  Woo-hoo!

This is my bad time of year for allergies.  This week has been rough...bad drainage causing nausea, sneezing, sinus headaches.  From now through the first part of September is usually when I suffer the most with them.  It took me years to figure it out!  I would always feel bad and/or get sick Labor Day weekend.  I just thought it was Oklahoma!  LOL!  Finally it dawned on me that it was allergies from grass and weeds.  I usually end up having to get medicine for a sinus infection.  I'm hoping to avoid that this year!

I'm expecting a package from The Container Store today.  I use my cashback points from our Discover card to get gift cards from them.  I had saved up enough to get a pretty substantial order this past time.  I plan to work on my pantry when it arrives and get it all reorganized.  I love things that help me organize!  I function so much better when I have a designated place for everything, and everything is neatly in its place!

Last weekend, when we were in Paris, I made my normal visit to Hobby Lobby to get some yarn.  I had an afghan that I wanted to make for Sheila.  The only yarn that I could find in the colors that I wanted was the "I Love that Cotton" yarn that I use for making my dishrags.  I decided it might make a nice summer-weight blanket and bought up a bunch.  (I also knew that any left over could be used for dishrags.)  I started crocheting on it Saturday, after working out my design.  I finished it up by mid-week!  It has been awhile since I crocheted anything.  Guess I was missing it!  :)

Well, the day is going to get away from me if I'm not careful.  I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!  Stay cool (or at least try to)!