Special Times with Friends and Family!

 Dennis and Stephen have been gone on their annual hunting trip to the Hill Country this week. I have enjoyed my "solitary time". Even though I've been excited to have some time to myself, I haven't exactly been a hermit! I've been to visit several people and spent one afternoon with Sheila and Nam. Tuesday afternoon, we went to the theatre to watch The Chosen Christmas Special. We were the only ones in the theatre, so we sang along with all of the songs that we knew. It was fun, and heart-warming! Afterwards we went out to eat together. We all decided we wanted sushi, which is a special treat for me. Good times! 

I've used this week to try out several new recipes that I didn't figure Dennis would like. I had a mango chicken salad for lunch today that is definitely a keeper! Dennis won't eat it, but I plan to fix it on a regular basis for myself. It was chock full of yummy and healthy stuff! I did try a new chicken recipe tonight that I think even Dennis might like. It is similar to an easy meal that I fix regularly using chicken and veggies, but the seasoning is quite different...more of a Middle Eastern twist. My house still smells wonderful!

I also took the time this week to clean out my closet. I had a LOT of clothes that were too big for me now, so I took them to a local charity to be sold in their resale shop. I'm trying not to buy many new clothes yet, since I still have a long way to go before I reach my weight goal. I still have quite a few things from several years back that I can now fit into again. 

My little herb garden has germinated! Every pot has several tiny plants coming up. It is exciting to watch them pop up! I'm hoping that I can just keep them growing until they are big enough to begin harvesting. I love using fresh herbs in my cooking.

Last week I brought in my pumpkins from the front porch and roasted them. Then I pureed them and packaged them in different size bags for using in various recipes. I even cooked the white pumpkin which turned out good. It has more moisture than the regular pie pumpkins, but I used it for making some pumpkin bread, and it turned out just fine. I sent most of it with the guys this week, but I kept a couple of large muffins for breakfast and snacking. I used whole wheat pastry flour, LOTS of pecans, and lightly sweetened them with maple syrup, so they are pretty nutritious. 

Dennis is heading home in the morning with an 8-point buck and 2 does. Stephen also killed his 3 deer, plus a turkey! I cleaned and reorganized my freezers today, so I'm ready! I'm also excited to hear all about their week. Dennis had really been looking forward to it.

Next week, I have a night out planned with several ladies from the HC congregation. Two years ago, we went to the historic theatre in Grapevine to watch "White Christmas". We enjoyed it so much, that we decided we wanted to make it a yearly event. Then COVID happened! Hopefully we can get it back on track now! Afterwards, I'll spend the night with Diane. I always enjoy our girls' night!

Ricky's family plans to be here next weekend. They'll be doing Christmas with Amber's family, but they'll be staying here at night. I am so ready to spend some more time with our little Archer! They change so quickly at this age! He was still sleeping most of the time the last time we saw him. They say that he is awake a lot during the day now. I can't wait to hold him again!

The following week, Nam is coming for a sleepover, ending on New Year's Day. His family will be coming for our annual Seafood Boil. I always look forward to that! I really love this time of year!

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas, safe travels, and special time with loved ones!

It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

 Well, as you know by now, we have a new grandson...and he is absolutely perfect! He is beautiful, sweet and super cuddly. We thoroughly enjoyed the time that we spent with him!

I love this picture of my boys!

We also enjoyed visiting with dear friends while we were in the Clarksville area. I love getting to see them all now that we are going up there more often. I'm very happy that Ricky and Amber have such a wonderful support system.

We celebrated Thanksgiving at Rick and Amber's house with them and Joe and Leanne. Leanne and I cooked dinner, and the kids got home from the hospital in plenty of time to eat. I was glad to get to have a traditional Thanksgiving dinner...on Thanksgiving Day! I love me some turkey and dressing and sweet potatoes!

We made it home Thursday, the 1st. As much as we loved our time spent in Arkansas, it felt SO good to get home. I am getting to be more and more of a homebody the older that I get. I love traveling...but I'm always ready to get back to my bed, my chair and my kitchen! I am very thankful, though, for the technology that we now have, so that I can see pictures of Archer every day. They change so quickly as this age, and I hate to miss any of it!

Dennis had to have a tooth pulled today. Both of those molars that have been giving him so much trouble have to come out. He is hoping to have implants done. He is just doing one at a time, since they are on opposite sides of his mouth. Otherwise he'd not be able to eat! He isn't feeling very well right now...waiting for the ibuprofen to kick in and the bleeding to stop, so he can have his baked potato for lunch. Dental work is no fun!

Next week, he and Stephen are supposed to go on their hunting trip in the Hill Country. I usually spend the night with Diane when he is gone, but after our trip to Arkansas, I just want to stay home and enjoy the solitude. I am a pretty social person, but I also really enjoy my alone time. 

I've finally been in the mood to do some handwork again. It has been awhile! I made several scarves to give away last week on our trip. I found some really soft, thick yarn that made up super quick! I also found a new brand of cotton yarn that I liked the feel of, so I bought a couple of skeins to make dishrags. I've finished three, so far, and love the way that they work up. I also did a little "gardening" yesterday. I'm NOT a plant person...I can kill anything! But I've always wanted an herb garden. I got a gift card from Amazon that I used to buy an all-inclusive starter kit with five different kinds of seeds. Well, I got them planted. Now we'll just have to wait and see if they actually do anything. 

Well, that's what has been going on in my world. I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving and are enjoying the sights and sounds and "feels" of the season!

A Whole Lot of Celebrating Going On

All weekend the song, “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year”, has been going through my head. We had such a special time!

I finished Nam’s cake before lunch Friday morning. After lunch, we loaded up and headed to Sheila’s to deliver it. I had sent a picture to Sheila to show Nam, so I didn’t get to see his initial reaction, but she said he was SO excited! I’m glad he was pleased. This was the first cake that I have done since Sheila’s wedding, so I was nervous about being so out of practice. Thankfully, everything went according to plan!

I love his fierce expression!

After a short visit, we decided to go watch a movie matinee. I love it when we are the only people in the theatre! After a busy couple of days, it was nice to put my feet up (the theatre had recliners) and chill for a couple of hours. It was time for supper by time we got out of the movie, so we went to Red Lobster to use a gift card that Dennis had. I decided to splurge, since it was our anniversary, and ordered the filet mignon (it was also about the lowest in calories of anything on the menu!). It was SOOO good! I even ate one of the garlic cheddar biscuits. My mouth and tummy were very happy.

I had rented us a room at a hotel in Hurst, so we wouldn’t have to do the extra driving (going back to MW, then returning to NRH the next day). Plus we enjoy having a night out occasionally…especially on our anniversary. The room was amazing! I usually try to get rooms with a sitting area, but this one had a huge comfortable sectional sofa…with an incredible ottoman. We both rested very well!

After a good night’s sleep and breakfast, we decided to do a little shopping. We were close to a woodworking store that Dennis likes, so we spent about an hour browsing around there. I’m not at all interested in the tools, but I enjoy looking at all of the beautiful woods! We had a light lunch at Whataburger (I HAVE to have my weekly Whataburger Jr!), then headed on over to Sheila’s for the day. We were early, so we had time to do a lot of visiting before the other guests arrived. It was all family, both Gerralds and Joiners, plus Jessica and Stacey (who I think of as family). The day was perfect! Sheila and Matt had set up various games for the kids in the front yard. They had a blast! The temperature was a little warmer than some of us expected, but it was great for spending the afternoon outside. It was so nice having all of my grandkids together again (minus the one who hasn’t made his appearance yet)! I love seeing the bond that is developing between the three boys. They are all so close in age and enjoy each other so much!

We were the last to leave the party and head towards home. We made a few stops on the way home, looking for a couple of things we’re needing (or wanting). Then we grabbed a quick bite at Chicken E and settled back in at home. I went way over my calorie budget for the day, but I had been way under the day before, so it pretty much balanced out. Then when I got up this morning, I had dropped that final pound to reach 40 pounds lost! YAY! I’m not going to worry about losing over the remainder of the holiday season…just maintain what I’ve done. I’m almost at my halfway point, which is a good spot to coast for a few weeks.

We are excited to see what this week brings. Archer can decide to come at any time now. We plan to be ready to leave whenever we get the call. I have a few tentative plans for the week, but nothing that can’t be dropped at the last minute. My arms are aching to hold a new grandbaby! That is something to be thankful for!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING WEEK!

Busy Times!

 Nam came for a 2-night sleepover the first week of November. I made jerky while he was here, which he loved! (He likes to call himself a super-carnivore.) I started feeling really tired the first night he was here. The next day, Thursday, I could tell I was coming down with something...probably a UTI. Friday, we had to be in FW early for Dennis to see his endodontist. Afterwards we went to Cabela's and then ate lunch at Red Lobster before taking Nam home. By that time, I was miserable. I told Dennis to just drive straight to the Urgent Care center as soon as we got back to MW. I definitely had a UTI! I went home and put my feet up and barely moved for the next 48 hours. The medicine finally started kicking in on Monday, and I was feeling almost normal by Tuesday morning. SO thankful for antibiotics!

Friday I took Aunt Coez to FW for a medical procedure. She had 95% blockage in the main vein in her right leg, so they inserted a stent. She did really well, and we made it home around 3:00 that afternoon. She has to have the other leg done in a couple of weeks. I hope it is just as successful! Earlier in the week, my Aunt Faye fell and broke her right arm and was hospitalized with blood pressure issues. She is currently in rehab and having a pretty rough time. She could definitely use your prayers!

Dennis had another appointment this morning with his endodontist, so we were back in FW. He has two teeth whose roots are infected...AGAIN! Today they did an MRI (the last visit was x-rays and a prescription for antibiotics). He should hear from the doctor in a couple of days to discuss what options he has to deal with this recurring problem.

After his appointment, we went to a door warehouse in Haltom City to shop for a new front door. Our old one has been in bad shape since we bought the house. The finish is bad and the wood has dried out and looks awful. The glass is also cracked...and has been since we've owned the house. We found a door that we both liked and brought it home. It is similar to the old one, but the lines are more curved instead of squared. The glass is insulated, too. It still has a beveled glass design, but it is enclosed with smooth glass on both sides, which will make cleaning easier. And we should still get rainbows shining through in the afternoons! The grandkids have always loved my rainbows (and so have I)!

I have been enjoying the trips back and forth to FW and Weatherford these past couple of weeks...plus my occasional walks in the afternoons. The trees are really starting to turn! The temperatures have been glorious...chilly mornings and comfortable days. Some days I've even needed to wear long sleeves! I LOVE FALL!!!

Tomorrow morning I go in for my bloodwork. I am excited to see what the results are. The urgent care doctor checked my blood sugar when I went for my UTI, and it was 89...in the middle of the afternoon. So I am expecting it, as well as my cholesterol levels, to be very good. I have now lost 39 pounds. (I was SO hoping that I would lose that other pound over the weekend to make an even 40!) I've been bouncing around for the past week...up a few ounces, then down, then up a pound, then gradually coming back down. It can get frustrating at times! But things have been so crazy lately that I'm not surprised by it. EVERYTHING affects weight!

Dennis killed a nice buck on opening day, so tomorrow and Wednesday, we'll be butchering it (after the requisite 10 day aging period). We emptied out our "garage freezer" and took the meat to Sheila and Matt when we took Nam home, to make room for this year's bounty. It was mostly ground meat, which they eat a lot of. With just the two of us, and our reduced consumption for health reasons, we just don't eat that much anymore. 

Nam's 8th birthday party is this Saturday, so I'll be working on his cake Thursday and Friday. He wants a tiger cake this year. (That kid LOVES tigers!) If I can translate what is in my head to the cake, I think he will be very pleased. I'll share pictures next week. Since this Friday is Dennis and my 44th anniversary, we will deliver the cake to Sheila's on Friday afternoon and then spend a night out. We'll go out to eat, maybe take in a movie, and then spend the night in a hotel. That way we'll be close for going to the party the next day.

Archer is "due" on Thanksgiving Day. Of course, he could decide to arrive any time now! I know Ricky and Amber are getting excited! So are we! I can't wait to meet our newest grand!

SO...we should be pretty busy for the next couple of weeks! Take care, and I hope you all have a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving!

Girls Weekend

Dennis was supposed to be taking some friends to E. Texas to go squirrel hunting over the weekend. So I invited Diane to come spend the night, so we could have a girls weekend. Dennis ended up having to cancel his hunting trip. He had gone down a week earlier to scout out the area and came home with HUNDREDS of chigger bites, so he had one miserable week and wasn't up to a return trip. I didn’t want to cancel mine and Diane’s plans, so I told him to find someplace else to go. He decided to go to San Saba to buy pecans and spent a couple of days driving around the hill country.

Bounty brought back from San Saba

Diane got here Friday in time for lunch. We went out and got some Mexican food and then headed to the DIY craft place downtown for some crafting fun. I had looked online and picked out my project…a wooden fox to paint for Archer’s room. Diane looked around and found a wooden sign that she liked. We spent a couple of hours painting and visiting and looking at all of the fun projects that Bryton has in her store. It was so much fun! I look forward to going back again and taking more friends and family. What a wonderful addition to our town!

After crafting, we did some shopping downtown, and then I drove around and showed Diane our little town. I really do love our town and am so excited by all of the new energy and growth that is taking place. It was fun to share it with such a special friend.

After a light supper, and some more visiting, we decided to watch a couple of favorite movies. First on the list was “It’s a Wonderful Life”. I watch it every year around Thanksgiving or Christmas. It is always more fun to watch with friends! Afterwards we watched “Sabrina” (the newer version). I usually watch the old version with Audrey Hepburn. I had forgotten how funny the newer one is! By time we were finished, it was past midnight, so we turned in.

The next morning, we woke up to temperatures in the high 30’s! I decided it was chilly enough to warrant running the fireplace for a bit. It was nice, sitting in the living room with our cups of coffee and enjoying the fire. After breakfast and some more visiting, we headed back downtown for more shopping. Whereas on Friday we had visited the older establishments (Garrett’s and Witschorke’s), Saturday, we focused on the newer businesses. First stop was to the Antique Mall in the Brazos Shopping Center…so many things to look at and inspire ideas! Then on to the Crazy Water Hotel. The first floor has opened up several boutique-type stores and is soon to have a coffee bar open up. Work is still being done on it, but it is gorgeous! It is very encouraging to see the types of shops opening up inside and knowing that there will be good opportunities for tourists as they are drawn into town by the revitalization going on surrounding the Baker’s restoration. After shopping awhile, we had lunch at the Happy Days Diner. It is a fun place to go for a delicious (and HUGE) hamburger! Then it was on to The Market…a must-stop place in Mineral Wells! I had been there about three years ago, but I plan to start going much more often. It is a great place to look around and find neat gift ideas! They also have good photo op places outside.

Favorite Photo Op Downtown

At The Market 76067

By time we got back home, Dennis had returned from his trip, so we caught up with him awhile. Then Diane headed home. It was such a good weekend! I love spending time with my gal pals, and Diane is one of the best! I can’t wait until next time.

Parting gift from a dear friend

Happy Fall Y'all!

 Even though the effects of autumn don't hit us as early as a lot of places, we are definitely seeing a change! Our highs have been in the upper 80's and lower 90's most days, with the nights dipping down into the 50's a few times. We had some WONDERFUL rain last week...several inches! It was just in time to save our lawn, which had really started drying out and turning brown. It is now lush and green again. The mulberry trees (like we have in our front yard) are RAPIDLY losing their leaves. We can see a little bit of a color change in the other trees. It will be in November before we have our best color. I am enjoying each little change that I encounter though! I LOVE FALL!

I've never been one to decorate for different seasons. However, I have really been drawn to the fall decorations every time I've gone to Walmart. So I broke down and bought a few things this past week. Not much, but it makes me smile every time I walk up to my front door.

Dennis has been taking a break from house renovations. The next project we plan to do is the back guest room. I don't want to tear it up until after our family get-together in a couple of weeks, so we'll have plenty of room for Stephen's family and Rick and Amber. I am really looking forward to that! We'll also be attending a baby shower for Rick and Amber while they are down. I've been buying up little things and filling a basket with them for that. It is hard not to buy something every time I go to the store! It is just under 2 months before little Archer is supposed to make his appearance!

Tomorrow is Amber and Ricky's 2nd wedding anniversary. It really feels like they've been married longer than that. They were together for a year before they got married, so Amber was here during much of that time. She fit so seamlessly into our family, that it feels like she's always been around. Tomorrow is also the 4th anniversary of Ricky's sobriety. I am so proud of how far he has come in that time! 

My last CASA case is quickly winding down, with the adoption consummation coming up later this month. I decided a few months ago that this would be my final case. After 9 years, I don't feel like I am up to doing the job anymore. It is hard to leave such a worthwhile organization, but it is time for me to move on. So I decided to start delivering meals again. MOW is kind of my "fall-back" for volunteer work. I started doing it in Nacogdoches when the kids were young and continued it once we moved up here. After working full-time for them, I suffered burn-out and started looking for other options. Now I'm back. This is something that I should be able to continue to do for many years to come. Plus it isn't so time consuming to prevent me from doing other things that may arise. I think it will be a good fit for this point in my life!

My weight loss journey is continuing to do well. I'm now down 30 pounds! Woo-hoo! I still have a LONG way to go, but I feel really good about how far I've come. I feel SO much better...like I've gained back several years of my life. Carrying around fewer pounds and exercising more, I am able to be so much more active. I used to find excuses to skip a morning of exercise. Now I try to work it in even when it isn't convenient. I'm also enjoying an evening walk several times a week, now that the temperatures have dropped to a more comfortable level. I am REALLY looking forward to my yearly checkup in December and seeing what kind of change there will be in my bloodwork. I'm hoping to be down another 10-15 pounds by then, too. It will be nice to have my doctor happy with my weigh-in, instead of trying to politely tell me I need to lose!

Well, I guess that's all for now. Enjoy the beauty of the changing season, take care, and be kind!

Ec 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end. (NKJV)

I love Sundays!

Some days I feel so peaceful and contented. Today is one of those days. In fact, I find myself feeling that way a lot on the Lord’s Day. I enjoy assembling with my Christian brothers and sisters. I love how my "batteries are recharged" through worship! I also love the time we have to visit with one another. I really love our little group at Eastside! 

Aside from the assembly, I also love the laid-back “vibe” of Sunday afternoons. We almost always go out to eat for lunch. I ease up on my dietary restrictions for the day, so we usually end up at Whataburger. I love my weekly hamburger and fries! I try to eat lightly the rest of the day, but I don’t worry about it if I go over my limit. Sundays are the only day that I don’t exercise. Sometimes I’ll take a walk in the evening, but only if I feel like it. Mostly I just “chill”. 

Today has been a little busier than usual for a Sunday afternoon. I did a couple of loads of laundry and went to Walmart to stock up on produce and a few other items that I need for the week. But other than that, I’ve just read, listened to music, and enjoyed a day of leisure. Even though our days are pretty much ours to do as we want since Dennis retired, we try to keep ourselves busy with various pursuits. Throughout the week, one day is pretty much like the other. But Sundays are different. I like that. 

I hope that all of you have enjoyed a good Lord’s Day as well. Wishing you a good week! Take care and be kind! 

Ps 118:24 This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. (NKJV)

Summer's Last Hurrah!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Labor Day Weekend. We did! We left last Thursday morning and drove to Benton and spent the evening visiting with Warren and Linda. It was so good to see them. Our last visit had been at Ricky and Amber’s wedding. That’s too long! It was good to see for ourselves that Linda is doing ok. She still has a good way to go, but she is moving in the right direction. We are SO thankful that she is on the mend!

We drove on up to Russellville Friday morning and got there just in time to take Amber out for lunch. Afterwards, she took us to the house that they are fixing to move into. The duplex that they have been living in has a lingering cigarette smoke odor from the previous renter, so their landlord let them out of their lease. The new house is larger and will meet their needs much better. We set up the cradle Dennis made in Archer’s room. It was exciting to start making baby preparations! Just 12 more weeks! Amber is so cute with her baby bump!

The cradle with a few baby things I brought

Saturday, we went exploring north and west of Russellville. We headed up on Hwy 21 out of Clarksville. We saw some gorgeous countryside! Ricky knew about this little hidden gem of a restaurant near Jasper, The Low Gap Café. We stopped there for lunch and thoroughly enjoyed the food! Then we circled around and took Hwy 7 back to Russellville. It was a full day and lots of fun!

We enjoyed assembling with the church at Clarksville Sunday. It was so good to visit with everyone! After the morning service, we went out to eat with Charles and Belinda, then spent the afternoon visiting at their house. After services that evening, a big group of us went out to eat supper together. We truly enjoyed catching up with everyone and sharing a lot of laughter together!

Monday morning, we and the kids drove up to Mount Nebo…such a beautiful drive! We did a little light hiking and then heading back down to Dardanelle for a quick lunch. We went back to visit some more with Charles and Belinda that afternoon, then they took us out for some delicious pizza for supper at the Brick Oven. We really enjoyed the time we were able to spend with everyone!

Yesterday morning we began the long drive home. Even though it is only supposed to be a 7 hour drive, we were on the road from 9 to 5. We like to stop every couple of hours or so to stretch and walk around a little. These old bones get pretty stiff and sore from riding! Then we hit Springtown right after school let out, so we were hung up in traffic for close to an hour there! UGH! That town has been a mess for a good long time and is actually even worse right now. We like to avoid the Metroplex by coming home via Hwy 51, but we may change that until they get the roadwork finished there!

It was great to get home! I love traveling…seeing new places and visiting with loved ones…but I always love coming back home. It feels good to get back into my regular routine and start eating healthier and exercising again. I really tried to eat smart on our trip and did ok (with a few exceptions), but it is hard to limit my calories when we are eating out all the time. Plus I couldn’t get my exercise in or get in my step goal with all of the riding around we were having to do. This is going to be a life-long journey for me, so it has to be sustainable…which means eating food that I enjoy that isn’t exactly good for me occasionally. I have spent my whole life dieting and losing weight, only to regain it and then some. I’m getting too old to continue doing that! I am finally resolved to eating healthy and being more active from here on out to try to maintain my health as long as possible. My weight loss program (Noom) encourages us to be transparent with our goals, so we are accountable to more people. So y’all are part of my support people!

My laundry is calling me. Take care, be safe, and be kind!

Labor Day weekend plans

I love fall! (I’m sure that comes as a complete surprise to all of those who know me.) But before the splendors of autumn can arrive, one must face RAGWEED SEASON. *dun dun dun*

I’m not the most perceptive person around. Sometimes you have to beat me over the head with a 2x4 for me to “get” something. That’s how it was with me and RAGWEED SEASON. *dun dun dun* For years, we would spend Labor Day weekend in Valliant, OK, at an annual gathering of good friends. After a few years, I started noticing that I always came home sick. At first I thought I was allergic to southern Oklahoma. I finally came to the conclusion that I am allergic to ragweed or goldenrod or some other grass that blooms this time of year (or all of the above). Now I just expect to feel bad when Labor Day rolls around.

Guess what? This coming weekend is Labor Day weekend. Guess what else? I woke up this morning with a runny nose, sneezing and nasal congestion. It is RAGWEED SEASON! *dun dun dun*

We normally attend the annual Labor Day gathering (that has now moved to Haslet), but COVID has caused it to be cancelled for the past couple of years. So we are planning to head to Arkansas instead. We are really looking forward to seeing Rick and Amber’s new home and spending some time with them. We are planning to take the cradle that Dennis has been working on for Archer. He is currently applying the tung oil finish to it, which will take a few days to complete. We also plan to visit Dennis’ siblings in Arkansas, and come back home via Paris to see Stephen’s family. We are looking forward to getting away for several days and visiting with a lot of loved ones!

I am pretty much off of my BP medicine now. I still occasionally will take a half of my new dose if it edges up a little, but most of the time I don’t need any. I’m now down 24 pounds. Most of the time, I’m pretty satisfied with my new diet regimen. Yesterday, however, I decided to take the whole day off. I ate what I wanted and didn’t worry about getting my “steps” in. It was nice to relax a little and enjoy eating food just for the taste and emotional satisfaction. In the past, I would have let a day like that throw me off track. However, this morning, I woke up ready to get back to my new normal! I managed to complete my morning workout even though I’m not feeling too great. I’m actually enjoying my healthier eating and have found some good nutritious snacks that satisfy me. It is still a little daunting when I think about how much more I have to lose, but I’m trying to take it a day at a time and celebrate my successes.

We lost a loved one from our congregation at Eastside last week. Jimmie R. has been a member there for decades and will be sorely missed. He has struggled with lung issues for years. His graveside service was Saturday. Please keep his dear wife, Sue, in your prayers as she learns to move on without him. Bobby W, from the Hurst congregation, also passed away last week. Please pray for his wife, Becky, too.

My dryer is calling me, so I’d better skedaddle. Take care, be safe, and be kind!

A Hint of Fall!

Today has actually felt like fall! We have had a LOT of rain, and the temps are in the 70’s. I know we have more hot weather ahead of us before fall actually arrives, but I’m enjoying this little reprieve!

We had Stephen and Mandy’s kids for a couple of nights last week, while they took a little couple time. We really enjoyed it…and no one got sick this time! We took them out to the state park on Thursday night to look at the deer and do a little “hiking”. They had a blast! Then we got up early the next morning and drove to Glen Rose to go through the Fossil Rim Wildlife Park. The kids did so good! We all really enjoyed seeing all of the animals. Gracie particularly enjoyed feeding the giraffe!

After we got home, Dennis and the boys designed and built an obstacle course in the front yard. That kept the boys busy most of the rest of the day. It was a good way to burn off some energy after sitting in the car for hours.

Dennis has been busy building a cradle for Ricky and Amber. We are hoping he has it finished in time to carry up there when we go for Labor Day weekend. He really enjoys furniture making! It is a nice break from house renovation. His next remodeling project on the house will be the back guest room. I don’t expect it to go very fast at all. We are getting close to deer season, so he will be somewhat distracted! It will be one of the easiest remodels so far…very little structural work. He will be tearing it down to the studs, as he has everywhere else, and walling over the built-in cabinets. The door has already been enlarged, which will put him way ahead. He’ll be putting up new drywall, texturing and painting it; stripping the popcorn ceiling and retexturing it; building new shelves in the closet; laying laminate flooring like we did in the other guest room. I’ll miss it while he’s working in there! That is my exercise room, and where I go when I need some privacy (i.e. doing Zoom visits and court for CASA). Not really sure where I’m going to end up putting my stationary bike during the remodeling! (The living room is a little too public!)

My yearly checkup with my cardiologist happened to be today…during one of the heaviest rainstorms we’ve had in months! I wore socks and shoes (instead of my normal flip flops), thinking that would keep my feet warmer. Instead, they got soaked as I was going to the car to leave, so I ended up with cold wet feet all day! The first thing I did when I got home this afternoon was shuck those things off and slip on my fuzzy house shoes! But I made it to Weatherford and back safely, and my doctor was very pleased with me, so I’m thankful. I’ve recently lost 20 pounds (and really stepped up my exercise and activity level), so he was able to reduce my BP medication to ¼ of what I had been taking. Actually I had already done that…cutting my pills into fourths. He just made it “official” and gave me a prescription for a lower dose (which I’ll still have to cut in half). Every time I lose much weight, my blood pressure really drops and I get light headed. I can tell just by the way I feel when the dosage is too high. I’m hoping to be able to discontinue the medicine completely before too long. Just not quite there yet!

Well, I guess that’s about all for today. I hope everyone is doing ok. I just got word that Linda is finally home! We are all SO thankful to see her recovering! Take care, be safe, and be kind!

Family Time 😍...and more COVID 😢

We enjoyed a wonderfully busy week last week! Sheila and I went to see a movie Tuesday afternoon that was based on a true story from our area. We enjoyed the story and being familiar with the places mentioned. As I usually do with “true stories”, I later googled about the accuracy of the film and learned more about some of the characters. It was quite interesting! After the movie, we went out for sushi. One of the things that I love about spending time with Sheila, is that I get to eat more “adventuresome” foods than when I’m with Dennis. Plus I just enjoy spending time with my girl!

While we were doing our thing, Nam and Grandad went to service his deer feeder at Thiess and Gina’s and enjoyed a visit with them. Nam loved his time with Pappy and Rue and ended up with a new treasure that Grandad found (a deer jaw). Then Nam spent a couple of nights with us. We didn’t do anything special…just our usual, which is the way Nam likes it. He loves traditions!

We took Nam home on Thursday after lunch, visited a little with Matt and Sheila, then headed to Paris. We arrived in time to meet up with Stephen’s family for supper. Then we went back to our hotel room to rest up from a tiring few days. We spent all day Friday visiting with them. The grandkids kept us busy! I loved seeing Mandy’s new kitchen. It turned out SO pretty…and functional! She is really going to enjoy it.

We spent another night in the hotel, so we could rest up before getting back on the road. We made it home a little after lunch on Saturday. Since we had a potluck planned at our house the next day, I spent the rest of the day cooking and cleaning. We had a great turnout for our gathering after church…even Coez and Willie Dee made it! We ladies enjoyed all of their stories. They have seen and done a lot during their 90+ years each. I really admire both of them! I think everyone really enjoyed our time together.

We are planning our family’s “Thanksgiving” gathering for the middle of October, since Archer is due on Thanksgiving Day or thereabouts. The HC congregation will also be having their baby shower the day after our get-together. That will save Ricky and Amber from having to make another trip down. The kids talked me into doing Mexican food again. Since it will be so early, turkey and dressing just didn’t seem that appropriate. I am looking forward to a traditional Thanksgiving, ON THANKSGIVING DAY, sometime in the not-too-distant future!

I sure hate seeing the number of people with COVID going up again! We had just gotten to the point where we really didn’t think about it much at all, since we were vaccinated and the numbers had been so low. Now we have a number of loved ones who are sick. I still have 4 grandkids that are too young to be vaccinated, so we have to be mindful of doing anything that might put them at risk. We would be helping Ricky and Amber, right now, with their move; but they, and Chris who came to help, all have the virus. I’m not worried about Dennis and I getting sick, but it is possible for us to get it and pass it on to the littles. We are having Stephen’s three spend a couple of nights with us soon, and we don’t want to take any chances. I really hate this virus! Please keep everyone who is currently struggling with it in your prayers…especially the other Linda G.

Take care, be safe and be kind!

Feeling very blessed!

 Thanks for all of the birthday wishes yesterday! You all made my day very special! Even though I'm getting on up in years, I still love birthdays. Not really sure why, because we don't do anything special any more. I just like the thought of seeing a new year, and knowing that I have made it this far. We actually celebrated on Thursday. I always get a free steak dinner from the Mesquite Pit for my birthday month, so we went out for that. It was WONDERFUL! I'm not a big steak eater, but I do enjoy a well cooked steak now and again. And this one was cooked perfectly! Afterwards, we went out to watch a movie...first time in I don't know when. It has probably been 2 or 3 years since the last time we did so. It was fun. It's nice to be able to get out and do things like that again!

Saturday before last we went to the HW congregation to listen to Jensen speak. It was really good to see him and Andrea, as well as everyone at HW. After the assembly, everyone went over to Layne and Heather's for supper. We really enjoyed our visit.

We had planned to go to the Clarksville meeting this past weekend, but Dennis got sick last week. Don't know what he had, but it lasted about 4 days. He got tested for COVID, but it was negative. (Thankful for that!) He finally started feeling better on Thursday, so he was able to do a little work on the utility closet doors, which he finished (except for a tiny bit of touchup work). I am very pleased with how they turned out! 

I am excited about this week! Sheila is bringing Nam over tomorrow to hang out with Grandad while she and I go for a belated birthday outing. Then Nam will spend a couple of nights with us. After we take him home, we will go on to Paris to visit with Stephen's family. We are really looking forward to seeing them again. It has been a couple of months since they were here. We did a video chat yesterday for my birthday. I said something about our upcoming visit, and Shepherd asked why we didn't just come right now? He does that every time. LOL! I'm also looking forward to seeing Mandy's new and improved kitchen. Hopefully the work will be completed by then. I know they are ready to get their household back to normal!

Sunday, we are hosting another potluck after the assembly. I'm looking forward to that, too! I hope that everyone is feeling up to coming. Coez has been able to attend a couple of assemblies lately. She still struggles to get out, but she has been doing better...even been working in her yard some. Willie Dee has been back the past few Sundays after recovering from her hip replacement. She is an amazing lady...93 years old, still living by herself and driving herself, and her mind is sharp as a tack! I really love our old folks! 

We are enjoying a nice rain this morning. This summer has been incredibly wet and mild for these parts. Our yard is probably the best it has ever been. Rain in July is a rare thing here. Dennis usually has to work hard watering, to keep our grass alive (which really drives up our water bill!) It has been nice, not having to do so this year! If this continues, I look forward to seeing how it affects the colors this fall.

Well, I guess I need to start my day. My stationary bike awaits, and I have snickerdoodles to bake. I hope that all of you have a wonderful week! Stay cool, enjoy your blessings, and be kind!

How I spent my morning!

It is so hard to conduct business by phone any more! Customer service is a forgotten concept, it seems.

I found out (not through the manufacturer, distributer or prescriber) through my Facebook support group for CPAP users that my machine was probably being recalled due to an issue that can POSSIBLY CAUSE CANCER. So I went to the manufacturer's website to try to find out what to do and finally found a way to check to see if my machine is affected by entering its serial number. It told me that it was NOT included in the recall, so I didn’t do anything else.

About a week ago, I responded to a question in my support group about the recall. Another member informed me that if my machine was built before a certain date (which it was), then it WAS affected. So I decided this morning to take care of it. I called my doctor. They told me to call the medical supply company through which I purchased the machine. I called the office in Weatherford (I thought) and got stuck in an automated circle. I finally chose the option to be called back when it was my turn, which the automated service said would be less than 5 minutes. About 45 minutes later, I did receive a call back. I was told that I needed to call the manufacturer or go on their website. Since I’d already done the website thing, I decided to call. The automated service told me that due to a large call volume, to go to the website. SO, I did. After looking around the website for several minutes, trying to find SOME information about the recall, I finally found the right page. I entered a different serial number (there were 2 different serial numbers on my machine!) and learned that my machine was indeed affected. I continued on to the page to register my device for the recall and couldn’t get it to work. After multiple attempts, I FINALLY was able to enter my info and get my CPAP registered for the recall. (My machine was already registered with the company, but that doesn’t do anything as far as the recall is concerned!) The site said that due to high volume, it may be a while before they contact me about my machine. The instruction given is to discontinue use of your machine until it can be replaced. For someone like me, who had over 60 episodes per hour when I was tested, that just isn’t feasible! (With my CPAP, I usually have less than 2 episodes per hour.) So I will continue to use my machine until they finally get around to doing something about it, and hope there is no long term problem that develops! (I have read that as long as you aren’t seeing black specks in your hose, it is probably ok.)

It is really sad when a corporation has such little concern for the wellbeing of their customers that they make it so difficult to resolve an issue like this. If any of you use a Philips CPAP or BiPAP machine, please begin the arduous process to register your machine for the recall…and good luck! 

4th of July Weekend

 We enjoyed a WONDERFUL 4^th of July weekend, attending the meeting at Henrietta Creek! It was good to visit with so many dear friends that we haven’t seen in a long time. The lessons were inspiring, the singing was glorious, and the fellowship was sweet! I want to thank all of those who worked so hard to make the weekend go well, both by planning and hosting it, as well as making the journey down to participate!

There were well over a hundred people in attendance Friday night, which really surprised us! I’m glad that we arrived early, so we could catch up with everyone as they got there. I was amazed at how much all of the kids and youth had grown and changed since we saw them last. A lot changes in a year and a half! After a beautiful service, including a lesson on the Holy Spirit, the congregation served some sweet treats and cold drinks while everyone enjoyed visiting. When Dennis told me it was time to leave, I was a little perturbed until I got in the car and saw that it was already 10:30, and we still had an hour and 15 minute drive to get home!

We had another wonderful assembly Saturday morning, with a good lesson from Ken on our need to “Lean on Jesus”…using the apostle Peter as an example. Afterwards, everyone went out to Mark and Karen’s for a day of fun activities and good food and fellowship. It was so fun to watch the kids! They had a water slide for the little ones, plus wading pools and water soakers and balloons. There was also hatchet throwing, corn hole, and hayrides. There were SO many little ones, as well as teens and young adults! For those of us who were older and more sedentary, there were canopies and shade trees for us to sit and visit under. The weather turned out perfect for the day! There was a cool breeze blowing, and the temps were unseasonably mild for July. Ricky and Ben cooked hamburgers and hot dogs for our lunch, and pizza was brought in for supper, with homemade ice cream for dessert. It was a perfect day! I finally had to tell Dennis we needed to leave, so I could get home in time to prep for cooking the next morning! It was midnight both nights before we made it into bed.

Sunday morning, the crowd was a little smaller, but still a full house. Garrett did an amazing job, as always, on his lesson, which pretty much picked up where Ken had left off the day before. After services, we had potluck at the local community center. We definitely filled up that building! I had made Daddy’s fried rice, which just seemed fitting for the occasion. I really missed him not being there. He was such a strong force in that congregation for over 50 years.

We finished out the meeting with a passionate sermon from Joe on preaching the gospel. It was hard to see folks leaving. I was struggling with my emotions all day. We were, thankfully, able to stretch out our day by going out to eat with a smaller group and then ending up at Ricky and Amber’s house (along with their weekend house guests) for further visiting and watching fireworks. From their backyard, we could see fireworks being shot in all directions! It was such a great evening! We finally said our good-byes and made ourselves leave around 10:30. They were planning to load up a trailer (with Ben & Laura, Heather and Chris and Karley’s help) this morning and head north. They have plans to meet Ricky’s new boss and check out a place to rent in Russellville, then head back home so they can go to the doctor on Thursday to find out if this baby is a boy or girl! How exciting!

I have an adoption to attend next Monday, and then plan to spend the next couple of days helping Amber get everything packed and ready to move. Then we hope to drive up to Clarksville together for their meeting on the 15^th. We’ll have to come back on Saturday, but we still should be able to get in at least two assemblies. I dare say we will be keeping the road hot between here and the Clarksville/Russellville area for a good while to come!

I hope that all of you have been having a wonderful holiday weekend, too! Take care and be thankful for all of the wonderful blessings that we enjoy!

Goodbye June!

Well, 2021 is now half-way over. WOW! Where does the time go?

I took Sheila out for her birthday last week to a neat place that she found in South FW. It is a non-profit that serves upscale food but doesn’t have prices on their menu. You can choose to pay what you think it is worth, pay what you can afford, not pay at all, or pay enough to help cover their expenses for those who can’t pay. The food was great…as was the service! (All of the servers are volunteers.) It has a casual ambiance, so anyone would feel comfortable going there to eat. There looked to be several people there who could benefit from their service. Such a great idea (although I realize that it wouldn’t necessarily work just anywhere)!

I had planned to take Sheila out for pedicures that day. However, a few days previously, I think I broke my little toe. I couldn’t even wear closed shoes. There was NO way that I was going to let someone mess with my feet! (My toe is much better now.) So we just hung out and did a little looking around the area close to where we ate lunch. We went to the Best Maid Pickle Emporium, which I’ve been wanting to visit since I learned it was in FW. It was interesting. I had recently bought all of the pickles I needed, so I didn’t make any purchases. But it was fun learning about the history of the company and seeing all of the products that they provide. We also went to a little market, where I bought a GORGEOUS cantaloupe. Dennis and I ate on that thing for days! It was HUGE! Finally we stopped in at a cute little diner for a glass of iced coffee and a shared piece of coconut pie. Even though we didn’t do anything exciting, I still enjoyed my time with my girl. When I took Sheila home, I picked up Nam and brought him back with me for a couple of nights. We had some great conversations on our way home, as usual! During this trip, Dennis introduced him to the shooting range. Dennis shot a few of his rifles, and Nam shot the BB gun. He loved it! He has now started a brass shell collection. :}

I was sent for an MRI on my brain yesterday. (I REALLY hate those things!) Since phantosmia can be caused by brain anomalies, my doctor wanted to rule out anything there before proceeding. Guess what? I really do have a brain! And it appears to be normal. Some sinus issues showed up on the MRI, so I’m now being referred to an allergy specialist. We’ll see what he has to say. Dennis goes to the same one, and he really likes him. I hope that he can help with my issues…without having to do anything invasive. I’ve already had sinus surgery once, and I DO NOT want to go through that again!

Dennis is still working on the doors for the furnace/water heater closet. They are coming along well! He’s already mounted them, but hasn’t finished them out yet. It already looks so much better, having that area closed off! I will post another picture when he is finished with all of the painting and metal screening.

The louvers will be painted black and covered by black decorative metal. The rest of the doors will be gray...to match the other doors in the hallway.

We are really looking forward to the meeting at Henrietta Creek this weekend! It sounds like there will be a very good turnout. It will be so nice to see friends that we’ve not seen in a couple of years! It will be a little bittersweet though. Ricky and Amber will be heading up to Arkansas next week for his new job. I am so happy for them…it is a great opportunity, and they have always wanted to move up to the Clarksville area. But I am REALLY going to miss them…and the little one when it is born! I dare say that we’ll be making a LOT of trips to Arkansas in the future.

Summertime has definitely arrived! We are still getting some nice rains from time to time, but they have finally slacked off to a reasonable amount…no more DAYS on end of storms. With the rise in temperatures and the high humidity, it feels HOT!

I hope to see a bunch of you this weekend. Safe travels to those who will be on the roads! Try to stay cool, and take care! 

Delightful Smells

My last post was about the phantom smell of cigarette smoke that I experience on a regular basis. Today I am enjoying some real smells that make me happy!

First thing this morning, I started some sourdough in my bread machine. I enjoyed the yeasty, tangy smell of the dough being mixed and proofed all morning, until the bake started. Ahhh! I don’t know if I can think of a better smell than fresh bread baking!

Dennis has been building (from scratch) some doors that cover the closet where the furnace and water heater are. I don’t like louvers, because they are so hard to keep clean, so he is going to fit some decorative metal screening in the door panels for ventilation. Then he’ll make slots on the INSIDE of the doors for louvers, to block the view of the appliances in the closet. They will be painted black, as will the metal, so they should be virtually invisible. Plus the way he’s installing them, they can be easily pulled out for cleaning. ANYWAY, he is making the slats from cedar (it was the cheapest alternative he could find). So the house is filled with the sweet smell of cedar!

It is amazing how smells can evoke emotion and bring back memories so vividly! When I smell a certain cologne, I instantly think of my Grandma and feel peaceful and loved. The smell of a freshly bathed baby fills my heart with pure joy! Dennis loves the smell of oil refineries, because his dad worked in oil fields for a big part of his formative years. People may not rank smell at the top of their senses that they would hate to lose, but it would take so much pleasure from life if one were to lose it or have it distorted. In the support group that I’m in (on Facebook), there are MANY people who suffer from parosmia, which causes a distortion in one’s sense of smell. Most of the people affected are miserable! Things that they used to love to eat now make them ill. Many are depressed. Many find it difficult to eat anything. It is amazing how such a “little” thing as having one’s sense of smell damaged can change a person’s life!

I am very thankful for my sense of smell! Even though I often smell a bad odor that isn’t really there, I can still enjoy all of the wonderful, good scents around me. I hope that you can take some time to smell the roses or whatever delightful scent comes your way (both literally and figuratively)! 

Php 4:18 Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. (NKJV)

Phantom Smells!

I have recently become aware of a strange condition that I have evidently had for a long time. For years I have often smelled cigarette smoke when the A/C comes on. Of course, I just figured that sometime in the past, some cigarette smoke got into the system and was still being recirculated. I’d even considered hiring someone to come clean our ducts, but I wanted to wait until we have completed our house remodel. About a month or so ago, I read on a CPAP support group where someone had posted a question about whether anyone else had started smelling smoke after beginning to use their CPAP. Even though I had been smelling it long before I started using my CPAP, a light bulb came on. I asked Dennis if our house ever smelled like cigarette smoke, and he said it did not (and he has a very keen sense of smell…especially where cigarette smoke is concerned). So I started googling. It turns out there are a couple of conditions that can cause one to smell something that isn’t there. One is phantosmia (or phantom smells), which is also referred to as olfactory hallucinations. The second is parosmia, where you smell something (such as coffee), but it smells like something else (like burnt rubber).

Upon learning about this condition, I started paying much more attention to when it occurred. I used to think it was only when the A/C came on, but it turned out to be more likely to occur then, but not only then. It would usually last a few minutes, then go away, but it would happen multiple times a day. The causes of this condition are varied…the most common being a sinus infection, damage to the nasal passages, or as the result of medication. However, it can also be a symptom of a neurological condition, including a brain tumor or dementia. (Parosmia is common among people who lost their smell as a result of COVID. After regaining their sense of smell, it became distorted.) One thing that everyone agreed on was a medical evaluation was recommended to rule out anything serious. So when I went for my checkup last week, I brought it up.

There was a nurse practitioner in training that was shadowing my PA. When I broached the subject, she got really excited. She had never heard of this and was very keen to learn more. My PA was familiar with the condition, for which I was most thankful. It had been about a week since I had experienced any phantom smells, but she wanted to change my nasal spray to see if that might be the source of my problem. I’ve been off of my old spray for several days now. I still haven’t smelled the cigarette smoke…going on almost 2 weeks now. I don’t know if this is just a short reprieve, and it will eventually return, or if the nasal spray was causing the problem. I’m just enjoying the relief right now. If it returns, my PA will send me to an ENT who will run tests to see if it is sinus related or neurological. I have been reading posts and questions on a Facebook support group page, and what I’ve experienced is very mild compared to what many others suffer. Most of them are former COVID patients who now have parosmia, and it greatly affects their sense of taste…making it hard to eat. I’m thankful that mine has been just a minor nuisance! Time will tell if it is gone or if it turns out to be caused by something other than my nasal spray. Right now, I’m just enjoying not having the smell of cigarettes in my nose most of the time!

Girls' Day Out!

What a great day! This morning, I headed over to Diane’s for a lunch date. We went to a little sandwich shop called Newk’s and talked over our salads for the longest! (I was beginning to worry that they might kick us out!) Then we went to Target for a little shopping. Then it was back to her house for a couple of hours of quality visiting. We don't get together that often, but we always enjoy our time together when we can work it in!

I left around 4:30 and headed down to the area south of the medical district in FW…just off of Magnolia Ave. There are so many little shops and restaurants that have built up in that area now! Sheila and I met up at The Worthy Co. to do some candle pouring. The shop is a non-profit that helps women who have been victims of abuse and trafficking. They give them jobs and teach them the skills that they need to break free of their past. I didn’t really know what to expect, but I really enjoyed it! We selected the container and scent that we liked, then they talked us through each step of assembling and pouring our candles. The finished candles have to set up for a couple of days before being moved, so we will pick them up later to bring home. 

After our fun craft time, we walked several blocks to The Flying Carpet, a Turkish restaurant. I was really excited about trying this new cuisine! We decided to get an appetizer, an entrée, and a dessert and share them. It turned out to be the perfect plan. For our appetizer, we decided on Sigara Börek, which is feta cheese and parsley wrapped in a thin pastry and fried. They were SO GOOD! Then we ordered Yoğurtlu Tavuk Kebab, which was a chicken kebab in a yogurt sauce…very tasty! We finished up our scrumptious meal with Baklava! I’d had baklava before, but only the grocery store variety that you reheat. This was WAY better! Warm buttery pecans and honey layered with super thin, crispy phyllo…you can’t help smiling after each bite! After our leisurely meal and lots of good visiting, we walked back to our cars and said our good-byes. Then I headed west, driving towards one of our beautiful North Texas sunsets while listening to my Disney goes Classic CD. Such a wonderful day with my gal pals! I can’t wait until we can do it again!

Family

 It has been a busy month. Dennis has been doing a lot of maintenance work on the church house. It is an old building with a lot of needs. He reframed the front door that was rotting away. The guys decided to get a new sign made, since the old one is falling apart. It was finished this week, and Dennis is adding some finishing touches to make it a little more weatherproof than the old one. It is really nice to live so close to the church house, so he can take care of odd jobs that need attention. 

We put off doing any work on the house until after we had our get-together this weekend. So aside from doing stuff on the church building, Dennis used the time to build a shotgun for little Gracie. He had made one for the three little grandsons a couple of years ago. Gracie decided she needed one...a pink one! Well, Dennis prefers to leave a natural finish on his wood creations, so he bought a piece of purple heart wood to use instead. It turned out really cute! He also sized it down to better fit a petite little girl. She loved it! Friday night, Dennis and Stephen took her and Shepherd to drive through the state park to look for deer. They ended up seeing a dozen (no babies...just pregnant does), and Gracie "shot" every one of them! They also found a nice tarantula to let the kids look at. They were a little uncertain about it, but it was a memorable experience!

We had another Nam sleepover a couple of weeks ago. (We are pretty much back to a once a month schedule again.) We went to Sheila and Matt's on Mother's Day and had supper with them. Then we brought Nam back with us for a couple of nights. On our drive home, we were having our normal deep conversations with Nam. (That kid is so fun to talk with!) He told us that he just didn't know what he would do without us in his life. Of course, that got me to blubbering! We enjoyed his visit, as always.

We decided to go to the Wednesday night assembly at HC that same week. It was really good to see everyone again! I had been there once, last winter, while Dennis was on one of his hunting trips; but this was his first time since COVID-19 struck. It is so nice to be able to get around and visit again!

This weekend was our family get-together...our "make-up" for Thanksgiving. Stephen's family came in Friday evening in time for supper. We all stayed up too late visiting. It was really hard getting the kiddos settled down...too much excitement! But it finally got quiet, and we all turned in to recover from the day's activities before the rest of the family came over the next morning. The boys were the first ones up, but they quietly watched a little tv until Dennis and I emerged from our beds. I started cooking our normal fare of bacon and pancakes. As soon as breakfast was over, the kiddos were ready to play! We have an assortment of wooden "weapons" that we keep here for the boys, but Dennis had only made one each of a sword and shield. Well it was soon obvious that that was not going to work! So he and the boys went out to the shop and quickly made up a couple more of each. Then it was out to the front yard to slay dragons (or whatever) and swing on the rope. They pretty much stayed out there until the rest of the family showed up, and Nam joined in with them. The boys played SO well together! They are finally to the age where they can really enjoy one another, rather than bicker. They didn't slow down all day. Gracie tried to keep up, but they weren't all that excited about having a little girl tagalong. 

Dennis grilled burgers for lunch, then we sat outside under the canopy and talked and laughed and just enjoyed one another's company for hours. (Dennis had bought the canopy for the weekend, since rains were expected off and on all day Saturday.) Mid-afternoon, I headed inside to make some homemade ice cream. I made my favorite, tootie-fruity, plus some plain vanilla. I also had chocolate syrup and sprinkles. The kids loved mixing EVERYTHING together! Gracie particularly like the sprinkles that had pink and yellow in them.

For supper, we had Mexican food. I had made some poblano and cheese tamales earlier in the week for the occasion. Then I fixed deer enchiladas, Mexican rice, salsa, queso and guacamole. I wasn't sure we'd made much of a dent in it all, with all of the eating we'd been doing all day, but everyone impressed me (except the littles...none of them were very hungry after eating burgers and chips and ice cream). After cleaning up after our meal, it was time for folks to start getting loaded up and heading for home. I hated to see them go! It had been a perfect day! As much as I enjoyed visiting with them all, I think I liked watching them interact with one another just as much. I remember the days when they were little and were constantly squabbling, and I would sit them all down and make them talk through their disputes and remind them how valuable their relationship was...and how they needed to treasure it and nurture it, since it would last a lifetime. It warms my heart to see that come to fruition. Watching and listening to their stories and laughing together, and just seeing the bond between them...as well as the one between their kiddos...was so special. I love my family time!

Now that the house is empty again, we are slowly getting things cleaned up and set back to normal. As we rest up and clean up from the weekend, I look forward to the next time we can all get together again and make more memories.

#7 on the way!

Most of you have heard by now that Ricky and Amber are expecting in early December. We are all so excited and happy! I’m always a little nervous at the very beginning of a pregnancy because of my history with miscarriages. But the ultrasound, Monday, showed that the baby was doing great! I am SO looking forward to having an infant around again! I missed out on so much of my other grandkids’ lives when they were tiny…living so far away from Stephen and Mandy, and not getting Nam until he was almost 4. It will be so wonderful to have this one so close, so I can have a front row seat watching it grow! I am also very happy for Ricky and Amber. I can’t wait to watch them become parents. I wasn’t sure, at one time, whether Ricky would ever have that blessing. I’m so thankful that he has grown into the man that he has, and that he found such a sweetheart of a wife. And, of course, I’m thrilled to have another grandbaby to love on!!!

We went to spend the day with Houston and Sue today. We hadn’t seen them in a LONG time. They are really looking pretty good! We had a nice long visit, with both of them talking at the same time. I finally gave up and just listened to Sue and let Dennis listen to Houston. When we left Sue loaded us up with some eggs from their chickens. I’m very excited about that! I love farm fresh eggs!

We plan to go see Sheila and Matt Sunday afternoon. I have a visit to do in the area, so it presented a good opportunity for seeing them. We’ll bring Nam home with us for a couple of nights afterward. I figured it was about time for another sleepover! I can’t wait to hear him tell us about their recent trip to the beach. Sheila said he LOVED it!

Well, I’m feeling a little road weary, so I’ll make this short. I hope you all are doing well and getting to spend time with your loved ones! Take care and be kind!

Getting back to normal

 Life is pretty much back to normal for us now. We are enjoying the freedom to visit others and eat out at restaurants and only don our masks when it is necessary or best to do so. The numbers of active COVID cases and fatalities are staying low (in Texas, anyway), so hopefully the worst is behind us now. 

I did most of my CASA training last week...for the year. We are required to get 12 hours of training per year, and I now have 11. I watched a seminar hosted by Cook Children's Medical Center that was 7.5 hours long. I broke it up into 3 days, so it wasn't so overwhelming! It feels good to not have to worry about getting my hours in every month. 

We took my Aunt Coez out to eat at Pulido's on Thursday. We had promised that when we were all fully vaccinated that we would go out and celebrate. We all really enjoyed it! It was very tiring for her, but she loved it. Dennis had a hard time helping her back into her house afterwards. Her legs give out on her, and she has trouble breathing, so she has to stop and rest frequently. I'd love to make it a weekly thing, but I'm not sure she could handle that...maybe once a month. She rarely leaves her house anymore.

Yesterday a group of us went out for hamburgers after church services. We all really enjoyed that! Everyone is thankful to be able to socialize and get out more! We are also enjoying not wearing masks during the assembly. It is so good to see each other's smiling faces and be able to give and receive hugs again! 

Dennis finished out the shower today, so everything is fully functional in the hall bathroom now! Hallelujah! I cleaned it up and set out soaps and shampoo and such. We are now ready for overnight guests! Dennis will be taking the next few weeks off (basically), so the house won't be torn up when we have our family get-together the latter part of May. It will be our "make-up" time from missing Thanksgiving. We won't be doing Thanksgiving foods though. Hamburgers and Mexican food will be what's on the menu. SO looking forward to having all of my kiddos home together!

My surgeon released me from his care last week! Then tomorrow is my last day of PT, in which my therapist will be doing my final evaluation. I will still have exercises to continue doing at home. My doctor told me that it will take about a full year for my shoulder to be back to normal. The better I am at doing my exercises, the better my recovery will continue to be. I have really good range of movement already, and I'm regaining strength in my right arm. Reaching backwards is still difficult, and painful, but it is improving. 

Dennis is hoping to do some fishing while he is taking a break from remodeling. He went out to PP Lake this afternoon to make sure the boat is working well. He hasn't been out in it in months. It will be good for him to have some good recreation time!

I hope that all is going well with all of you! Take care and be kind!

Together Again

 The past two weeks have been WONDERFUL! Sunday before last, we met up with Matt and Sheila at the park in Weatherford to get Nam. He was able to negotiate a THREE night stay that trip. (I told Dennis to expect him to try for a week next time!) As always we enjoyed our time with him. When we took him to Sheila's workplace Wednesday afternoon, we decided to do a little shopping and eat out while we were in Fort Worth. It feels SO liberating to be inoculated against the virus!

We started in cleaning the house, getting ready for company, the next day. It took us the whole three days (at our slower pace) to get everything put away (tools and such) and clean. Then Sunday, after our first assembly without masks, we had everyone over for a potluck. We enjoyed it SO much. I'm looking forward to more in the near future.

I had to squeeze in a PT session Monday morning, then spent the rest of the day doing up laundry and packing for our trip. We left first thing Tuesday morning and drove to SE Texas. It was overcast for most of the day, which made for pleasant travelling. Everything is so lush and green right now! We loved the rich smell of pine as we made our way through the Big Thicket. It has been TOO long since we had visited that part of the state. We lived in Livingston when we first married, which is just west of the Big Thicket. Dennis' first job with the Texas Forest Service was all through that area. It brought back a lot of good memories driving through there again. After a nice visit with my CASA baby and her grandmother, we headed to Jasper for the night.

Wednesday morning, we headed to San Augustine. We spent all day and then the night with Larry and Johnnie. It was so nice to catch up after way too many years! That evening, Dora and Blaine came over for supper. When we left the Rocky Hill congregation to move up here, Blaine was just a toddler. Now he's a big, strapping senior...about to graduate and head off to college on a football scholarship! Where does the time go? We really enjoyed visiting with all of them and seeing them doing so well.

Thursday, after a few more hours of visiting, we headed north to Paris. We drove through Center, where we lived about 40 years ago. We had to do a quick drive-by of our old home place. The empty lot where our mobile home had been set up, now had a beautiful brick house sitting on it. The house of our landlord (and next door neighbor) was gone. All that remained of it was the chimney. It was fun to see everything again and reminisce as we made our way through the countryside. We spent most of the first 28 years of our married life in that area.

We visited with Stephen and his family Thursday evening and all day Friday. It was so good to be able to spend some quality time with them! Those kids are growing up way too fast. We gave Gracie her 3rd birthday present, which was a Duplo dollhouse set. She loved it and played with it all day, after Jesse assembled it for her. Her favorite thing in it was the potty! 😂 She is at such a fun age! She can carry on a conversation for as long as you like, about pretty much anything! The boys are learning so much in their homeschooling! It was so special, after reading to Shepherd for the past several years, to have him read to us. We also enjoyed seeing his and Jesse's burgeoning math skills as we played Yahtzee with them.

We also enjoyed visiting with Stephen and Mandy and seeing how well their house remodeling is coming along. Mandy has quite a gift for design, so her large country kitchen is going to be gorgeous when it is complete! 

After a good night's sleep, we got up and started home this morning. Even though it rained off and on all week during our trip, we managed to avoid most of it while actually driving. We were very thankful for that! Everything went well, and we arrived home safely. Awww! There's no place like home!

I hope all of you have had a good couple of weeks as well. Take care, and be kind!

Update on March activites

 Spring has arrived! The weather has been beautiful, dreary, sunny, rainy, warm, chilly…and windy. Typical spring weather. The trees have been blossoming and greening up. Wildflowers (especially bluebonnets) are popping out everywhere. I love springtime! (My allergies are acting up big time, but that is typical for this time of year, too!)

We had a two-night sleepover in March with Nam. It was so good to have him over again! We just picked up where we left off a half-year ago. I fixed him his favorite foods, he and Grandad played their usual games, and we enjoyed seeing life through Nam-eyes again. His folks came over to pick him up and we “picnicked” in the front yard. It was really great to spend some time visiting with them again, too! I had a hard time saying good-bye, but at least I knew that things were finally easing up so that we can be together more. (We have another sleepover coming up in a few days!)

We had Rick and Amber over last week for supper. Dennis needed help carrying the marble vanity top and setting it in place. It was WAY too heavy for me to handle! We really enjoyed our time with them. I’m ready to start doing monthly (at LEAST) get-togethers with them again. I’m ready to start cooking for company again! I’m really tired of just fixing for just Dennis and myself. (However, we just ordered in this time...kind of a last minute thing.)

Dennis and I received our second Moderna vaccines, and Coez got both of her Pfizers. We still have another week until we are up to “full” immunity, but it feels good to start loosening up a bit. I have an appointment to get my hair cut next Friday (first time in 18 months!). We are planning a potluck on the 11^th. Then we have a trip planned a couple of days later. I have a CASA kid who is placed in East Texas that I’ll finally be able to go see. While we are in the area, we plan to have a short visit with Larry and Johnnie. We haven’t visited with them in years! We are really looking forward to that. Then we plan to swing by Stephen’s for a visit (and take Gracie’s birthday present to her – can’t believe she is almost 3). I am really looking forward to spending more time with family and friends {and going out to restaurants again}!

I’m on my 5^th week of PT which is continuing to go well. I am slowly regaining strength and mobility in my right shoulder. I noticed this morning, as I was making the bed, that I can do more things without pain than I could before. I used to could really feel it when I used my right arm to fling the covers across the bed to straighten them. But this morning, I did it without even noticing it. My upward and forward motion is probably about 95% or more of normal. I still have a long way to go on reaching behind my back. But I can tell that I’ve made a little progress there, too. I’m very thankful for my good surgeon, my physical therapist, and the easy healing that God has granted me throughout this process!

The hall bathroom is looking great! Dennis is still working on trim…particularly around the tub surround. We finally got all of the “accessories” hung up this afternoon, including a picture that I found that I really like in there. I am SO happy with how it has turned out! Dennis thinks that he’ll have it completely finished by the 11^th, when we have folks over for the potluck. He plans to take a short break, then on to the back bedroom! That should be a relatively easy remodel. There aren’t any structural changes to make, other than walling over the built-in cabinet. Since we are replacing the sheetrock anyway, that won’t be a problem. There is a light at the end of the tunnel!

During demolition

After

Well, I guess that about catches us up since my last post. I hope you all are staying healthy and able to start re-integrating into society. I know COVID isn’t gone, but I hope that the worst is behind us and we can move on. Be safe and be kind!