The running between the garage freezer and the house wore me out.  I kept my pace at a pretty good clip, as I ran from one to the other!  The end result is two VERY crammed full small freezers!

I wiped out the freezer and turned off the power.  I wasn't sure if the condenser was gone or if someone had accidentally left the freezer door open just a crack.  I feared the worst, and I began to check prices of comparable freezers at Lowe's and Home Depot.  Almost $900!!!!!  I KNOW we didn't spend that much on ours, because we'd never spend that much on an appliance!  I remembered we'd bought that freezer and the indoor refrigerator from Lowe's damaged goods aisle.  Check them out if you never have.  There were some marks on the refrigerator's side with a dent (ours slides into a nook, so no one sees the sides) and scratches on the freezer, which is in the garage . . . so who cares?

I waited a little over an hour and figured the "hotter than hot" garage had defrosted anything that might be holding ice.  I turned the unit back on and put 3 gel ice packs in there to see if they'd refreeze.  They appeared to be doing well and so I refilled the ice cube trays I'd removed from the kitchen freezer (to make room for meat) and prayed.

-------------------------------------------

Thinking that was all of the excitement for the day, I took a shower (glad I had waited, since I was working up quite a sweat with the meat run!) and prepared to deliver dinner to one of our pastor's family.

The house became dark and I received a call from Jesse asking what was up with the weather - the sky was "black" where he was working.  Sure enough, storms were moving this way.  I hustled the girls and I, got the food in the Suburban, and we drove quickly to the church.  I talked briefly with the pastor, and then I *had* to go to that other Wal-Mart to pick up my prescription.  It was muggier than all get out with ominous looking black clouds moving closer and closer!

When I was in the parking lot, a large family that looked like a grandma my age with 2 pre-teen children and a an older girl (about early 20's), who had 3 very young children, were walking through the parking lot aisles aimlessly weaving in and out of the path of moving cars.  The children were all over the place and I very carefully inched my way to the spot that was open - close to the family.  I barely crept forward.  The older women walked on with the older children and the young mother stopped, trying to put a baby and a toddler in a cart.  I though she was letting me get into the spot - so I slowly pulled in.  She proceeded to scream at me about pedestrians have rights and "my people" (yes, she was African American) had rights . . . She never quit.  I was going to get out and apologize and explain I didn't mean any harm, but her tirade (which included language I never wanted my children to hear) continued and I feared she might hit me if I approached her.  Of course, my first inclination was to holler back that *I* watch *my* children in a parking lot and don't allow them to run off . . .  but, with my headcovering on, I obviously look like I'm from *some* religious sect and felt God calming my spirit and saying , "Shhhhh."  Trust me.  My reaction is new and not the way I used to violently erupt!

The girls and I walked on, passed her by, and never spoke.  She still yelled obscenities and was jumping up and down and shaking her fist, as we entered Wal-Mart.  It was a quick $4 purchase, and we were back on our way to the parking lot.  In my nervous state, I had hit my remote lock 3 times, which starts the engine back up with the doors locked.  I hit remote's "unlock" and couldn't figure out why the car was running . . . We got in (remember it was VERY hot and muggy) and it was comfortably cold.  It gave me a chance to "cool off" and regain my composure.  I drove home answering all of the questions my children had about the lady that screamed at me.  And, apparently, the finger gesture the preschool boy had made at us.

I was honest and explained to my girls what I had REALLY wanted to say and how that would have been wrong.  Rissy said, "Well I think you should have told her how you felt; AND, also told her *your* children obey and she should teach *hers* to obey."  Of course, my FEELINGS agreed.  But, I told her that wasn't how we were supposed to act.  Luci added that I should have hit her mouth when she yelled at me.  She asked what exactly the lady was saying because she didn't understand all of her words.  I told her she had used naughty words and left it at that. 

They continued with questions and I explained what our response as a Christian should be.  What would Jesus have done?  What stories in the Bible could we find where Jesus yelled back?  Would He have hit her in the mouth?  Would He have yelled naughty words back?  Jesus is our example and we are to set a "GOOD" example before others.  I told them, "That lady might not know Jesus.  She might have had a horrible day and I was the one she yelled at."  They reminded me that no one at Pastor C.J. church (98% African American) acted like that.  I told them you never know HOW people act when they aren't in church and that it wasn't fair to judge church people, OR people who had never been to a church.  That was not OUR job.  And people from all different backgrounds make mistakes.  Even Daddy and I did things wrong at times, no matter how hard we try.

I thought they were satisfied, but when Jesse walked in the door, after work, Rissy sang like a bird.  The story had escalated to how the women almost came after us and how Mommy had almost hit her child with the Suburban . . .   So, we then had to teach them about exaggerating the truth!  Jesse told them, 2 young African American girls had been hit by a car Friday night and MAYBE that woman was related to one of them.  If so, then she was justifiably fearful for her children's lives.  WE AREN'T THE JUDGE - GOD IS.

THAT was my Saturday - NOT exactly what I had planned.  Do you think there is a theme running through my life these days as far as my plans not turning out MY way????!!!!

Sunday, we did nothing.  I mean nothing.  The bar, small freezers, and large freezer all look the same today.  Jesse and I laid on our bed and watched two movies (we NEVER do that) and decided not to feel guilty.  He charcoaled some meat and I had made baked beans and a macaroni salad earlier.  That was our dinner.  The pictures above were taken this morning!  So my work is cut out for me today - IF things go as *I* have planned. LOL!!!

Our skinny little guy, Chirper, is going to the vet this morning for surgery to be done this afternoon.  He's being neutered.  We'll have to pick him up tomorrow morning.  The children's dentist office called to remind me of tomorrow's appointment at 8:15am.  Right!  There's no way I would have made an 8:15am appointment.  I explained about the cat, and she has us rescheduled for Wednesday afternoon.

Stephanie said they called from work, told her business was slow, and took her off of yesterday's work schedule.  So, first up - I DIDN'T have JanaLyn to watch.

I did some of Jesse's bookkeeping (and y'all know how much I enjoy that and how good I am at accounting - LOL!!  Yes, I'm laughing, too) and got his checks ready for deposit.  It seemed to take FOREVER but didn't really.  I think it's my state of mind.  Always worried about copying something wrong or missing a person's payment to him . . .   I have no confidence when it comes to numbers!

I took a 1/4 of an Actifed tablet.  Enough to clear up the sinus stuff without making me fall asleep at the wheel.  Then, we left the house.  First stop was the vet to get the little pill for Chirper's tape worms.  It isn't contagious, so only he was treated.

Made Jesse's deposit at the bank.  That was weird and took longer than it needed to, but I won't go into the details.  Just kind of an "out of it" teller.

We stopped at the post office to mail my letters and check our P.O. Box.  I figured there wouldn't be much in it but, Praise God, there were quite a few checks.  Money in the mail is ALWAYS good!

I had forgotten to eat lunch and grabbed a package of peanut butter and cheese crackers & a bottle of water as I ran out the door.  I munched those down as we drove from place to place.

I dropped some things off at Stephanie's and Rissy asked if she could stay there while Annamarie & Luci were at their therapy appointments.  The girls went in at the same time for their therapy and the therapist said Luci is doing remarkably well.  (Thanks again for all of you who have prayed for her problems!)

We went back to Stephanie's to get her, JanaLyn and Rissy and go to Wal-Mart (sigh - I feel like I live there!).  We made it through the store and back to the car in one hour.  Yay!  Record time, I think!

I dropped off Stephanie and began to drive home.  I wished with all my heart I carried my camera everywhere with me.  Luci was in the middle of the second row of seats and fell asleep, slumped forward - like a rag doll.  Rissy was back there and said, "Mom you gotta see this."  I turned to see this curly head of dark hair bobbing between her two knees.  I've never seen anyone fall asleep like that.  She truly looked like a rag doll.  I told the girls to let her sleep for the 10 minutes more we had to drive to our house.  Annamarie tried to get her picture on my cell phone, but she doesn't understand photography and her pictures were of Luci's hair, only.  I got a couple pictures and decided it wasn't safe to not be paying attention in 5:00 traffic!

We unloaded our stuff and I called the pastor's house to see if they wanted me to bring their dinner Friday or Saturday evening.  They decided on Saturday.  So (yay! again), I didn't have to go anywhere else.

Rissy cooked hotdogs.  You'd think I'd have been ravenous, but I wasn't.  I ate one hotdog and a few Frito corn chips.  A couple hours later, Jesse arrived home and I ate another hotdog with him, forgetting about my small bowl of peach sherbet in the freezer.  I think he ate it, which was fine - I just had a smaller than usual appetite yesterday.

I opened the envelope from the vet which contained (what I thought would be) Chirper's small pill.  I found a large capsule they had crushed flat.  Little Chirper's mouth is so small, I doubted he'd be able to swallow it.  Miracle worker that I am with cats, he got it down first try.  He and Jesse "wrestled" on the bed forever.  Chirper never extended a claw or bit down on Jesse.  It was cute to watch and makes me wish we also had a video camera.  But, we don't - oh well!  He wore out Chirper who curled up in my arm and laid his head on my chest and fell quickly asleep.  So did I. 

Today I have a few things around the house to do.  The girls are taking advantage of the dry backyard and playing outside until the heat becomes too much.  It's hot and muggy - no surprise for Oklahoma in July!  Later in the afternoon, I'll take the food to Pastor C.J.'s house and stop at ANOTHER Wal-Mart (I told you I live there!) to pick up a prescription.  Jesse said all I do is call in and pick up prescriptions.  Since I'm the one doing it, I feel EXACTLY like he does!!!  It just happens to be the way they were first prescribed.  One here, another there: one at one place, another at another place . . . No longer can you buy in advance because they think you might be abusing the medicine.  How do you abuse thyroid medicine???  LOL

Last of all, has anyone looked carefully at their grocery store receipts?  I was shocked to see the Great Value brand of Cheetos is no longer 98 cents but $1.68.  Their Great Value Frito corn chips aren't 98 cents any more, either, but $1.43.  As I went down the list (after spending $100 on next to nothing) I was shocked at how every single thing has gone up in price.  I buy Great Value's American cheese slices and it was over $4.00 and the beef bologna was ALMOST $4.00.  With cheap bread and tax, that means it's ten bucks to eat bologna & cheese sandwiches, and I don't even care for them!  Sticker shock was unreal as I read down my list of "next to nothing" items.  I bought an additional sack of potatoes, determined to use more potatoes as a cheap, but filling, food.  When I saw the price of a gallon of milk I muttered (but apparently not quietly), "A gallon of milk costs more than a gallon of gasoline!"  Another shopper started laughing at my comment.  Oops!  Didn't exactly mean to share!

I'm going to get moving and get off of here.  I'm looking forward to a leisurely shower while the girls are playing outside.  Not very realistic - but, I can dream can't I?!!! LOL

Just thought some of you might not know our story and would enjoy reading the novel . . . (saga?) . . . web entry!

Gotta run,
CHERYLYN

Yesterday (being at the tail end of my own cold and feeling MUCH better), I managed to get Luci's, Annamarie's and Jesse's laundry finished, as well as all white pillowcases, which were thrown in with the girls' white socks load.  Dishwasher was emptied and *MOST* dishes put away.  I really need to work on that bad habit!  I washed and hung outside to dry the red kitchen rugs.  I made a double meal to share with the pastor and his family (something new I created with ground beef & tomatoes).  I did a bunch of work online (bills, etc.) and even had time to take a break from the computer to watch part of a movie with the girls.

While dinner cooked, I decided to upload some pictures of Chirper.  Rissy had asked to borrow my camera because, "Mom, Chirper is just too cute.  I have to *capture* this with the camera!"  Yes!  That's my seven year old's vocabulary and style of talking, lately!  Before I could upload the pictures, I took some pictures of a baby bird that had fallen from it's nest or tried to fly and wasn't ready.  At any rate, I was surprised to find "someone" had used the camera for more pictures than just "capturing" "cute" Chirper!

Chirper is doing well.  I have to go get tape worm medicine today (the vet and I suspected he had more than just round worms), probably for ALL pets, and he has a very minor cold.  I'm assuming this will be a routine part of his constant care: little colds and other minor things he catches.  He's eating well, and we'll see if he's gained any more weight when he goes in to be neutered on Monday morning.

I gave the girls the piggy banks I've held forever in my closet.  They all got matching banks one Christmas, but never quite understood my instructions, "They are breakable.  Don't play with them."  They were all broken or had a chunk out of them by January.  I bought another one for Rissy and Luci (their banks had been shattered) but not "piggy" banks.

I'll most likely have hotdogs or Beanie Weanie for dinner tonight.  I try to keep Friday meals simple since I usually have so much to do in the afternoon.   Today won't be quite as busy, but hotdogs still sound like a "weiner" to me!

I pray everyone's week-end is safe and happy.

God bless!

Jesse took us to Golden Coral (all you can eat buffet) for lunch.  My throat was sore again and I took more aspirin.  I didn't enjoy my food as much, since I was only able to taste a little bit and my throat was pretty painful. 

We dropped Jesse off with his glasses at an eye glass place, and I drove the girls across the street to Payless Shoes to see if they had a size bigger in sandals for Luci.  She's already grown out of the ones from a couple of months ago!!  They did and we bought them and drove back across the street to pick up Jesse, who was waiting for us.   Perfect timing!

Next was the trip to PetSmart.  They were WONDERFUL when they found out Chirp's story and us wanting to keep him anyway.  MORE THAN WILLING to encourage us and help us.  Their vet (I didn't even know they had one!) gave us a prescription good for 6 months to buy a special canned cat food for kittens AND recommended mixing it with a little bit of high quality kitten kibble to help keep his teeth clean.  The cost was staggering, but the assistant said Chirper only needed 1/4 a can twice a day - making the 32 cans of food and kibble cost $40 for two months.  That didn't sound so bad.  The assistant to the vet also encouraged us about the fact he COULD throw the virus off once his strength was built up.  She said we were giving him the best chance of survival by doing everything possible.   She and the vet were glad we were going to try to help him rather than have him put to sleep immediately.  They encouraged me (as did our own vet) that if he was playful and not suffering, he was enjoying a good life.  AND, our being cautious with Stormy sharing bowls and litter boxes made things VERY doable.

We then went to Wal-Mart.

It was a tedious walk for me and I think the A/C in there wasn't working properly.  Jesse (for once!) agreed it was warm.  The first stop was the pharmacy area (I had to p/u my thyroid medicine) and, of course, they didn't have the infant vitamins for Chirper - only vitamins that contained iron.  We called the vet's office and he wasn't in, but the secretary said she'd check and call me back.  He said the vitamins WITH iron was a great idea as Chirper will be predisposed to anemia.  We were in electronics then we got their call and I called Jesse (yes, we use cell phones to locate each other in big stores!!!) and asked him to pick up the infant drops, so I wouldn't have to walk all the way back to the pharmacy section.  I pretty much followed my list, as I was feeling less and less able to walk.  My throat was killing me and I was perspiring like I was outdoors in the sun.  Yesterday, Jesse and I had a talk about this winter and stocking food NOW for winter and we decided to start buying extra things with each week's grocery trip.  This time I bought pinto beans and rice (put them in the freezer when we got home) because by the time we were in the food section, I was feeling really bad.  Anyway, it felt like we were in there for an eternity.  We still had to go back to the eye glasses place to pick up Jesse's repaired glasses.  I was so glad to have help when we carried in the groceries at the house.  I told the girls to leave the garage shelf pantry items in their sacks on the floor in front of the shelves.  I wasn't up to putting things away.

I was glad I had spaghetti meat sauce made from when I cooked for the pastor last week and that's what we had.  Boiled the pasta, mircrowaved the sauce and made some garlic bread.  I felt HORRIBLE!  I was having trouble breathing (asthma) and aspirin wasn't helping my sore throat, which had become so painful on the right side that each time I swallowed, pain shot into my right ear.  I went to bed early to watch TV and get off of my feet.  I took a Darvocet (an RX leftover from my root canal) for my throat pain and an Actifed to stop the nose stuff and fell asleep around 9pm.  Shortly after that, I woke up coughing & choking.  I took cough syrup, in addition to all the other stuff that was in me, and slept well until 3:30am.  I had to take another Davocet for my throat.  I was beginning to worry I would have to see a doctor.

This morning I woke up miraculously better.  Thanks for all of your prayers!  No sore throat.  My nose is clearing up and my lungs feel clear.  I can even smell!  I feel 1000% better.

I'm boiling chicken breasts to make chicken salad and want to share it with the pastor, IF  I can get over to the church today.  JanaLyn  is coming to stay for a while today.  Stephanie wants to look for another job AND get set up for assistance from the state for JanaLyn's daycare.  It's supposed to be a rainy day, and it DID sprinkle last night, but I let my girls outside a minute ago to play.  I hope they don't do the mud pack on their legs again!!

If I don't take chicken salad to the church, I won't be going anywhere today.  I have to check laundry hampers as I'm sure there is laundry somewhere that has to be done.  I think I'll take it easy and finish healing!

One last note.   We couldn't find Chirper ANYWHERE last night.  We NEVER let him outside, but couldn't figure out where he was hiding or stuck within the house.   My eye caught him cuddled under our den's sofa table on some pillows.  He was almost camouflaged within the pillows!

I'm off to read other blogs and continue to blow my ever draining nose!  BTW, I'm a sterile freak when it comes to preparing food.  I didn't know if anyone was thinking I should NOT take food to the pastor's family while sick!!!  I use a nail brush and sing the "Happy Birthday" song twice, while washing my hands with anti-bacterial soap to be sure all bacteria is killed.  No kidding, I probably wash my hands 4 - 5 times while preparing food!

I came out to the den to have my coffee and found Jesse still at home.  He said he didn't have much to do today and may put off the 2 or 3 jobs until tomorrow.  Then we saw the 60% chance of rain for tomorrow.  He went back to bed and I don't know if he'll still put off the jobs until *Thursday* or do them later this afternoon.  Plans always change when he is home.

I was going to take Sampson and Stormy to the vet for their shots and have Stormy tested for feline leukemia, but Jesse said he could do that.  He noticed I was having a hard time swallowing and asked if my throat was still bothering me.

I also wanted to do some light shopping at the grocery store, as well as pick up some high nutrition cat food for Chirper at PetSmart.  I feel fine and like I can do all 3 of those things, as long as no one requires me to talk much.  I've just taken some aspirin again and we'll see how I feel later.

The last piece of news for today is that Rissy has lost a FOURTH tooth from her top front, with no evidence of any new teeth surfacing at the gum line.  I have a feeling, she may be toothless for quite a while!  I told her we were going to have corn on the cob and ribs to celebrate her toothless state!

She has taken the ribbing very well, or we wouldn't continually tease her.  When she saw these two pictures of herself, she said, "Oh my!  I really AM toothless!"

It hasn't stopped her from eating.  She ate an apple yesterday - scraping and biting with her lower teeth.  She's like me, it's pretty hard to keep us from food when it comes to eating!!!

BUT . . .

Look what else got done!

I'm relaxing a bit and then will take my shower and wash my hair.

Dinner is under control.  I made a double batch of spaghetti sauce last week (for the pastor's family and ours) and all I have to do is boil some pasta and heat up some garlic Texas toast & the ready made sauce . . .and call it a meal!

I'm pleased with what we got done and couldn't have done as much without my girls' help.  Rissy said to everyone, "Many hands make light work," and her sisters jumped right in to help!  That's one thing I appreciate in my 3 girls.  They never moan about housework and are so eager to help me hurry up and get things done so I can sit down and "play" too!

The girls are slowly recovering from their summer colds, but Annamarie's sore throat has come back.  I woke up with a slight sore throat this morning.  But, I feel better than yesterday.  Whenever I don't feel well, NOT keeping up with my daily chores only causes me problems - chaos breaks loose all over the house.  I plan to stay home today and take a slow approach to doing what is the most necessary to be done.

The girls have all had a shower and washed their hair this morning, and my turn is next.  Then I'll have to start in on cleaning my house.  I don't feel like cleaning or doing much of anything, but, as you'll see, I don't have much of a choice!

Here is the condition of my home this morning.  Holding nothing back, I bravely place on exhibit my ReAl LiFe MoNdAy house AND the chores that await me!

Now you know how my day will be spent . . . how are you spending yours?

We were supposed to stay for a hamburger/hotdog barbecue, but we're still not 100% well.  Annamarie is feeling much better, Luci says her nose is still a little stuffy (not sure about her - she *possibly* just wants to fit in with the other sickies), Rissy feels better but has a slight cough, and I feel better, although I have lost my sense of smell and taste.  Sooooooooooooooo . . . I thought it best that we come home and not contaminate two churches with our family's germs.

We (Rissy) fried some hotdogs and I made them into chili dogs for lunch.  The spice "felt" good on my throat and we treated ourselves to soda pop (they "say" it was grape flavored - who knows?!!!) and had watermelon for dessert.  I'm really trying to like watermelon.  It was okay - pretty watery!!!

Taking it easy.  Resting.  Praying I"m feeling more energetic tomorrow!