Month: December 2008

  • ROFLOL!

    I mean, sometimes . . . dontcha just hafta ROFLOL????

    Yesterday was a royal zoo (that should probably be capitalized!!!!!) and I have the pictures to prove it!

    I DID accomplish everything on my list.  The Lord must have sent an army of angels to help and one whose only job was to give me peace and the courage to battle ahead with all that needed to be done!  Talk about a whirlwind of being here and there, at this and that time!

    Despite my list, which I couldn't have done without, I forgot intricate details.

    LIKE:
    *  you have to address and tape boxes closed before taking them to the post office
    *  dogs have special needs that cats don't possess
    *  the traffic
    *  the little branch of my bank that is the closest to us, is also the smallest and more busy
    *  said bank is also VERY friendly and tellers talk, in great length, to each customer
    *  there is no such thing as a quick trip to Wal-Mart, not even with a super organized list
    *  the traffic
    *  last minute gift items came to mind when shopping with children who were the recipients of said gifts
    *  the therapist is usually running late: unfortunately, doctors sometimes also run late - ours did
    *  school zones (when children are leaving school) are 20mph (there are lots of school zones!)
    *  the traffic
    *  children who are on the go all day get cranky
    *  houses that are used as dumping grounds for purchases become war zone dumps

    Need a better explanation??? !!! LOL!!   Me, too!  Maybe if I talk this out I will better grasp why my house looks the way it looks this morning and why I felt like I did last night and why I feel like I do this morning . . .

    1)  We didn't leave here at 10am as I had hoped, but 10:30am wasn't too bad - considering shoes continued to become untied (even though they were double-knotted) and Sampson had to potty outside 4 times before we left . . .

    2)  I drove immediately to the bank and was amazed at the extra traffic on the road.  There were only two people ahead of me in line at the bank and my girls were told to sit quietly on the sofas in the waiting area.  They did.  Actually, they did EXTREMELY well and I rewarded them each with a piece of the bank's candy.  I went to a small branch and the tellers know everyone.  The bank tellers are VERY friendly and talk to each person about their personal lives.  I forgot about small town establishments . . .  We were out of there in 20 minutes (yeah I know, 3rd in line and it still took 20 minutes)

    3)  We headed to Wal-Mart.  My list (categorized by store aisles) DID save time, but I remembered Annamarie hadn't gotten her sisters a gift.  Rissy had wanted to add crayons or pens to her giant coloring book gifts for her sisters.  Those decisions had to be made secretly without the others knowing what was happening.  I was also shopping for a whole week and couldn't forget one thing, because we have a bitter cold front moving in today that won't let up until next weekend.

    4)  My cart was filled to overflowing - for real.  So were my children's bladders and they had to use the restrooms twice while we were in the store.  I shopped for an hour and was amazed at how quickly things went.  The cart was so heavy and things kept falling out of it, as I pushed it at record speed.  I believe I can say, with all confidence, I had my aerobic exercise for the day!  A cashier gal (who has befriended my girls) grabbed me and took me to the lane she was about to open.  (Yay, girls!)  Bless you, Veronica!

    5)  We came home and methodically unloaded all sacks from the back of the Suburban to the garage floor.  Only a brisket, sour cream, and eggs needed to be refrigerated.  We truly worked as an assembly line team!

    6)  We all (yes, girls too!) went potty, washed hands, let the dog out and back in, and decided we had enough time to try to take our packages to the post office close to the doctor's office.  That's when I realized that I had never addressed or sealed the boxes.  Grab packing tape, grab heavy black pen, address boxes in bold print, tape, tape, tape (with the help of Annamarie), and, THEN (!!!), I was ready to leave the house a 2nd time!

    7)  We debated lunch and McDonald's won - AGAIN.  I've perfected the cheapest meal possible for our family that is filling.  Four double cheeseburgers (that are now called McDoubles because they only have one slice of cheese instead of two, but still have two patties), one large super-sized fries, and two cups of water.  Feeds four for $6.19.

    8)  We hit the turnpike, unwrapped our burgers only to find they hadn't given us double burgers, but one small patty with cheese - like the Happy Meal size burgers.  Sigh.  Nothing I could do about it, we were headed north on the turnpike - far away from McDonald's.  I told the girls to eat slow so it would feel like they were eating more food.  (I know - dumb - but it worked!)

    9)  We got to the post office whose long line was moving remarkably fast.  Got a friendly clerk who made me feel special.  Her birth date is 4 days before mine, thereby making me "the youngest" for once in my life!

    10)  We got to the doctor's office 15 minutes early, due to the post office's efficiency.  Whew!  Time to sit and breathe.  Except for Luci who was whining.  (Oh Lord, help me!)

    11)  This time the medical doctor was running behind.  They took us back to the exam room on time (3pm) but we sat there until 3:30 waiting to be seen.  Meanwhile, our therapist came knocking on the door and took Rissy with her.  Rissy had needed to talk last week, when the confusion over appointment time had made our visit null and void.

    12)  The MEDICAL doctor felt Luci and I (and probably Annamarie) were suffering from allergies and gave Luci samples of a decongestant.

    13)  I went to the therapist's hall with Luci and Annamarie, and the therapist and I went to her office while the girls played in the play room.  I told her about my "video" of Luci's fits and showed her the two pictures I shared on here yesterday.  She played hard ball (some call it tough love) and told Luci she was angry.  Luci asked, "Did I hurt your feelings?" and Julie was quick to say, "No, this time I'm angry.  You have wasted my time making me think you couldn't control your fits and all along you could.  IF you have another fit this week, I don't want to see you next week.  I'll see your sisters, but you will have to sit with your mom in the waiting room."  She said most children like the attention given them in therapy, and she hopes this tactic will be a deterrent, as well as push Luci into not desiring the consequences of her behavior.  The girls each got a puzzle from her, a candy cane from the receptionist, and they all went to the bathroom and drank from the water fountain before we left.

    14)  We left there and I thought of a gift I could buy Jesse.  He's getting some VERY expensive things for his truck and told me not to buy anything for his birthday or Christmas - but, it's hard to do absolutely nothing.  THE TRAFFIC WAS INCREDIBLY CONGESTED at 4:30.  That's when it dawned on me, we have major cold weather moving in, it's a Friday, it's a few days before Christmas, and one, if not all, of those reasons was the cause of the bumper to bumper cars everywhere.

    15.  The girls, while I shopped for Jesse's gift, had to use the restroom once more.  I was looking through books when they came back telling me they had to tell me about the sink . . . I shushed them.  I found what I wanted, went to the line that had the slowest clerk in the whole world.  Seriously!  She was either on tranquilizers, mortified by the crowd in her line, or just a very calm person living in a little piece of God's peace.  There were 2 people in front of me.  She S-L-O-W-L-Y picked up the items the 1st person was buying.  I thought she was S-L-O-W-L-Y looking for the price tag, but realized she was actually "breathing in the essence of each piece of Christmassy decorations the lady was purchasing.  Customer #2, a man.  He bought 3 books.  She was equally as slow as she carefully and S-L-O-W-L-Y picked up each book (they were all identical) and looked at each one (front and back) before scanning the item.  She smiled sweetly and said very S-L-O-W-L-Y, "Is there anything else I can do for you?"  He jokingly said, "Yes!  Would you please gift wrap these?"  She recoiled and her face winced, ever so slightly, as she mulled over her reply.  Finally she said S-L-O-W-L-Y, "Ohhhhhh.  We don't do that here!"  He leaned over and laughingly said, "I was teasing!"  She said a space cadet, "Ohhhhhhh."  I almost stepped forward and said, I'll wrap the books if it will speed things up; but then, that wouldn't have been the seasonal spirit, would it?  Customer #3  - ME!  AND, I paid with cash.  $44.76, I handed her $45.76 and said, "Here you go.  You just owe me $1.00!!!" (big smile)   She debated if I was telling the truth and decided to punch the money into the computerized cash register to see if it agreed that a dollar was due me.   It agreed!  One dollar it was!  She slowly looked at each row of money in the drawer and chose the "one's bin" and carefully pulled out a dollar bill.  Inside my mind was whirling, "C'mon!  C'mon! C'mooooooooon!"  But I smiled and said thank you, grabbed the girls, and we ran for the car.  They said, "Mom, the bathroom sink . . ."  "Shush," I replied.   It was 5pm and I was at a store on the highway.  Yes, it took forever to pull out of the store parking lot, and all I wanted to do was turn right. 

    This by far is the longest paragraph, but it was also the longest time I had to wait!

    16)  On the way home, they said, "Mom, that store's sink.  We couldn't turn off the water faucet and the water was getting ready to flood over the top of the sink."  OH NO!!!!!!  I grabbed the receipt from my wallet, asked Rissy to look for a phone number and dial my cell phone.  I got a person at the front desk, told them they should check the lady's room, and felt I had done my good deed for the season. 

    I went to our post office box.  No checks.

    While driving home (all the back roads to avoid the traffic), I remembered a few things I had forgotten at Wal-Mart.  Some fresh fruit and salad mix.  I decided to go to the local Homeland - a really nice store.  They have great meat and produce.  I figured, I might as well get it all done and then plan to go no where, except church, for the next week.  They were crowded.  I ended up buying some meat I hadn't planned on, but it looked REALLY GOOD!  Throughout the store I heard someone receiving text messages (over, and over, and over, again!).  You know, that irritating, bleepity bleep sound when a message is received???  They must have been one aisle ahead of me.  It was an incessant beeping that was getting on my last "patient nerve"!!!!  I went to get in line, which wasn't very long,  The texting sound continued when I looked ahead and saw the people directly in front of me (a mother and teenage daughter) were in possession of said cell phone.  AND . . . it was THE MOTHER doing the back and forth texting!!!!  To get my mind off of an adult acting that way (ignoring all else around her) I said to myself, "Thank you Lord that I have money to buy these groceries and legs to help me walk the miles and miles I walked today!"

    17)  On the way home my cell phone rang.  It was Stephanie.  She was at my house with JanaLyn and wondered, at 6:30pm, why I wasn't home.  Some people just take things for granted.  Yep!  Mom will always be around.  I had called twice and left 2 messages this past week and she never returned my calls.  Now I was needed . . . so, where in the world was Mom?!

    18)  We got home, dropped more groceries, and I sat down to relax.  Stephanie didn't say anything, but as she was doing laundry (she had taken the liberty of starting laundry, AFTER letting herself into my house!), I could tell she was thinking, "So what's for dinner?"  So I stalled.  Just because I could.

    17)  I finally pulled leftovers out of the refrigerator.  I felt drained.  I had probably a 12" x 20" cleared space on my bar to prepare plates for my girls and me, as they told me what they wanted.

    18)  After dinner, I sat in the living room feeling . . . well . . .  *dead* would be a close description!  Stephanie didn't feel well.  We put the girls to bed early (9pm) and JanaLyn had to sleep in the foster bedroom because she has a different type of head cold and I didn't want my girls to catch it.

    19)  I made coffee for in the morning and did my best to throw away the leftovers that weren't worth saving.

    I woke up at 4:30am, dozed until 5:30am, laid in bed (awake) until 6:30am with Chirper, and then got up to THIS:

    My desk                                                                          The foyer floor
      

    Jesse's coveralls drying in the doorway.                                 The bar chairs on the table side of the bar.
     

    The table from last night's meal.             
     

    The bar.                                                                            The dishes.
     

    The silverware in a cup in the dirty sink.                               The laundry room.
     

    To all of those who believe I'm a neat freak and squeaky clean - I present opposing evidence!

    I don't know where to start!  And that doesn't include the little toys that are under the sofa and coffee table or my own bedroom.  And, Luci has just thrown a HUGE fit - high pitched screaming and all.  I put her in my bedroom walk-in closet (door open), closed the bathroom doors, closed the bedroom door, but I can still hear the Jason-movie screams.

    Speaking of my closet, it now holds MORE things that need to be wrapped.

    Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh!  Waaaaaaaaaah!

    Somebody come help me, puh-leeeeeeze!!!

    Okay.  I'm fine, now.

    The above pictures will serve as my To Do List for today.  Plus the wrapping, cooking, laundry . . .

    Oh, before I go, I took some playroom pictures at the therapist's office yesterday, but have to load two more.  I'll post them as an edit to this post.

    Meanwhile, this is Luci this morning after waking up and I sure wish it was me!

     
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Okay, back with the edited version - more pictures of the girls playing dress up in the therapist's play room.

    Rissy                                                                     Annamarie
     

    Luci
                                                   

    Luci (hard to believe she is such a diva!)

    P.S.  The cold front arrived early.  It's already gone from 50° to 35° and it's not even noon!

    Be blessed  ~

     

  • Flying Through Friday, Today

    Today will be a "winging it" type of day.  Things changed yesterday when the therapist's office called and asked me to bring Luci in at 3pm, instead of 1pm.  Basically, that only meant grocery shopping first, coming home to unload, and then going to the therapist's office.  No biggie!

    Then, I realized I needed a case of Chirper's food from PetSmart.  I called and asked them to hold the case in the manager's office.  So now, *that* is first on my list. 

    BUT, today, Luci woke up feeling grouchy and, although my swollen throat is much better today, she still sounds thick-throated.  I called to see if a medical doctor could see her while we are there seeing the therapist.  Yes!  It's a go.

    Now I have more things on my list than I feel I have time to accomplish.

    My day looks sort of like this . . .

    I woke up and Luci was awake shortly after me.  Grouchy and complaining (*her* not me).  I told her to take some Ibuprofen and blow her nose or spit out gunk, if it was in the back of her throat, to help the choking sensation.  She replied that she didn't want to.  Instead, she wanted to stay with me all day - the new way we treat her not getting along with her sisters . . . I keep her by my side.  We call it, "time in."  I'm not exactly sure what that has to do with her swollen throat, but that was the acknowledgement I was given at my suggestion!  I explained we were going to run errands and see the therapist today and we weren't staying home.  That didn't set well with her.  "I'm SORRY, Luci, those are the plans."

    Then Annamarie was up and about.  She & Luci were arguing in the kitchen.  I thinking Annamarie was "looking" at Luci, or some other such earth-shaking infraction!  I grabbed the camera & headed into the kitchen.
      
    You can tell they are thrilled with each other!

    The second "deer in the headlights look" is because I've started telling Luci I am filming her fits to show the therapist and, lo and behold, her fits stop immediately.  She goes from kicking and violently screaming to this - dead still & quiet!
     
    Interesting, huh?  To anyone who has a child who has received the Oppositional Defiance Disorder diagnosis, I find this hugely interesting that a "movie camera" is like pulling the power plug.  Maybe it IS all behavioral modification and not psychiatric medications that is needed!  She just sat there with her hands over her face (same thing happened last time she threw a huge fit), not making a sound.  VERY EMBARRASSED.

    She believes my camera is filming her and she immediately stops the fit (which tells me she CAN control these outbursts).  My camera is able to film short "movies" - but I'm too dumb and too busy to figure out how it works.  Nonetheless, I'm taking my camera to the therapist's office today to tell her of the two fits "I've filmed" and let her talk to Luci about the incidents.

    So, that explains the "deer in the headlight looks" from Annamarie and Luci in the first set of pictures.  When I walked in the kitchen today while they were looking at each, or breathing the other person's air, or whatever it was that was causing the squabble, I guess they thought I was filming them - movie style.  Not a bad thing.  My camera quickly quells the most tempest of storms!

    I have a grocery list more efficiently written up today - it's listed in blocks (or sections) within the store.  All pasta products listed together, all dairy listed together, all condiments, listed together, all breakfast items listed together . . .   I used to make up my grocery lists like this when I was lots younger.  I'm going to revive that old method and see if it helps me to zip up and down the aisles faster and, hopefully, not over look an item on my list.  I'll report back after I try the old *new* way!

    I still need to feed the cats.  Chirper surfaced, but Stormy must still be in bed.
     
    Sampson has already spit up on the carpet twice this morning.  I continue to be patient with his accidents because of his age AND because the carpeting needs to be replaced in the worst of ways!!!

    Then there is my *DESK* (playing Alfred Hitchcock music in background!!!)

    Didn't I just clean this up last week?????

    At least it proves I've been busy this morning!!!

    Things To Do:
    *  PetSmart - p/u Chirper's food
    *  Grocery shop
    *  Unload at home
    *  P.O. box, to see if there are any checks
    *  Bank - to buy gift cards
    *  Post office to mail some boxes - I know, 2 trips!
    *  Lunch sandwiched in (probably a literal "sandwich" of PBJ!!!)
    *  Therapy and medical appointment
    *  Home to make order out of our chaotic day
    *  JanaLyn arrives to spend the night

    Dinner?  Who knows?!!!

    Be blessed  ~

  • Thursday Thirteen #43

    For some strange reason, I am unable to insert photos in my Thursday Thirteen format.  So, this will be a list of Thursday Thirteen, but without their format.  My apologies!


    THIRTEEN THINGS ABOUT
    GOD'S MIRACLE CAT
    CHIRPER ELZABAD

                          

                                                

    Behold the fowls of the air; for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them.  (Matthew 6:26)

     

     
    Preface    :    I had lost my sweet cat, Jesse-boy, after caring for him a little over 18 years.  I knew the day he'd die was soon approaching and was prepared when it happened.  There was a void in my heart, to be sure.  God saw it.  God knew it.  Through the grace of God, I didn't hurt, my heart didn't break, and I never felt I wanted Jesse-boy back, but I definitely had a need to hold another cat close to my heart.  You see, I'm a pushover for children and animals. 

    I prayed for months for God to prepare my heart for a new pet.  Then, I searched a month before I met Chirper.  We prayed as a family and I prayed a lot by myself.  I went to so many places and looked for "the right" cat.  None were the "right" cat.  At first sight, Chirper definitely wasn't what I was looking for - not exactly.  I held him in my arms out of courtesy to the lady who offered me her OWN pet, not one she would normally sell to the public.  

     

                                   =========================================

    1.  Chirper and I bonded in less than 5 seconds that day we found each other, in late June on a lady's porch bench.  An incredible feeling filled my heart when he head butted me, demanded kisses from my lips as he bumped them with his nose, and purred up a storm, clinging to me tighter and tighter, the longer I held him.  I asked God before accepting Chirper and the reply in my spirit was an incredibly, resounding definite, "Yes!  This is the one meant for you!"

                                      

    2.  Not only me, but my entire family fell in love with him immediately.  You couldn't help but love such an affectionate and cheerful little thing.  He just seemed thrilled to be in our home.  It filled the exact void Jesse-boy's dying had left within us all.  

    He was such a tiny little guy.  Not much bigger than a box of tissues!

                                    

    3.  We pondered names.  We prayed.  Searched and pondered some more.  Something seemed to be extremely important in choosing his name.  We decided to change Chirp to Chirper and continued praying about the middle name.  Eventually one name kept coming to me "Elzabad" - God's gift.  So, Elzabad, it was.

                                             

    4.  Some of you might remember the devastating post I wrote a week after we had received him - a week later when we took him back for his shots.  He had required flea treatment and antibiotics on his first visit for diarrhea and respiratory problems.  That second visit was when the veterinarian suggested we test for feline leukemia.   I agreed and knew it would come back negative, because this cat was obviously a gift from God to me. 

    The test was POSITIVE!!!! 

    I felt sick inside, as my heart sank, and my head spun.  The vet talked about the dangers of him being around Stormy and told us only cats could catch FLv - not dogs or humans.  Chirper was pathetically small, still recovering from the diarrhea and respiratory infections and I looked at this helpless life on the vet's exam table, the life I was so sure God had placed in my hands. The subject of euthanasia came up while the vet waited for my decision. 

    My heart cried out, "God!  How could you give me a pet and want him back so soon????!!  This all seems so cruel.  Yet, I know you are God and Chirper is yours, so if you want him back, I'll let go."  I meant every word I prayed. 

    However, I had NO PEACE about putting him to sleep that day.  Without thinking, the following words came from my mouth, "Please vaccinate him for everything you can and I'll have to think about what I'm going to do with him." 

    The vet tilted his head to one side as he sighed deeply and said, "Okay.  The shots are NOT cheap, you know?" 

    I answered, "Do it anyway."  Chirper received everything except the Feline Leukemia vaccination.                    

                                     

    5.  I did extensive research online.  I realized the risk I would be taking with Stormy.  Her vaccination for FLv was only 90% effective.  BUT . . . if they used separate litter boxes and food dishes . . .   I felt like God was pushing me in that direction.  Then I also felt God reminding me of Stormy's middle name - Azariah (whom God protects).  Could Stormy's name and God's involvement have started years before when Stormy first came to us?

                                

    6.  I felt strongly and had a definite sense of peace that God was urging me to keep Chirper.  So we did.  Despite feeling peace in my "keeping him decision," I couldn't help but wonder why God would give me a cat with a fatal disease.  Those questions plagued me, but I walked with the faith that He would direct my path.  It was brought to my remembrance that Rissy had been handed to us with the statement, "IF she lives, she'll be a vegetable."  That hadn't happened - not at all.  So, we prayed over Chirper's tiny little body asking God to suppress the leukemia virus and to protect Stormy from all harm.  We asked that God give Chirper many years to live, and I asked for wisdom to give him the best medical advantages.  I struggled with praying for a pet's health and wondered if it was even scriptural.  A pastor told me, "Well, we'll never know, unless you try asking Him." 

    I knew about praying for humans (that was all through out the Bible), but an animal?  Then I remembered Matthew 6:26

    Behold the fowls of the air; for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns;

    yet your heavenly Father feedeth them.  (Matthew 6:26)

    "Okay, Lord, You will take care of him as You see fit."

    7.  The technicians and receptionist at the veterinarian's office fell in love with Chirper.  We were in there so often.  I'm sure they felt this poor little cat would never make it through the summer.  They were also familiar with the fact I had recently lost Jesse-boy.  BUT, the story of Chirper also touched the people at PetSmart who still ask about him and give all kinds of support.  They've been so helpful.  Guests in our home have admitted, "There's just something about him you can't help but like."  Ahhhh, God's presence DOES have that effect on people, doesn't it?

    8.  We did all we could humanly do.  We were prescribed a prescription diet at PetSmart WITHOUT their veterinarian examining Chirper - totally free service!  The canned food was supposed to give him everything he needed nutritionally.  I read online about liquid baby vitamins with iron mixed in with his food would combat anemia.  The vet said I should try it and I could tell he was reluctant to feel as hopeful as I was feeling. 

    Chirper WAS very tiny.

                                            

    To control the diarrhea, giving the food a chance to stay in him long enough to grab nutrients, he began taking 1/2 tablet of Imodium.  We have tried to keep him close to our bodies for the benefit of our body's warmth, our heartbeat, and our love acting as a shroud between life and death for him.  A hedge of protection around him.  All of this was instinctual and it felt like God was with me, teaching me each day, with every breath that Chirper took while sleeping by my side.

                                           

    9.  Chirper began to change by fall.  He seemed more independent:  less needy.  He remained affectionate, but not clingy like in the past.  And wonder of all wonders, he steadily began to gain weight!

    10.  He made friends with Sampson and Stormy who weren't so keen on a new pet being brought into the house.  He pestered the dog and cat until they HAD to play with him - and they began to enjoy him!  (I praise our God!  He has such a perfect way of placing perfect family members together!!!)

      

    11.  He has sharp nails making it necessary for me to take him monthly to the vet to have them trimmed short.  I don't want to take the chance of making him bleed, because each assault to his body can weaken him.  So, while at the vet's for the nail trim, we do a monthly weigh in.  During last month's visit, the vet said Chirper was at a perfect weight for his small frame - about 6lbs 8oz. (he had come to me weighing 4lbs.6oz.  Our vet said, too much more weight would make him pudgey. 

    PUDGEY???!!!  CHIRPER??!!   My skin and bones kitty???!!!

    12.  I began to see that God gave me (us) a precious gift in Chirper to prove His love for us in replacing the void Jesse-boy had left.  Also, He taught us to let *Him* be God, to pray for an animal He created by using faith, and He has shown us His mighty power, which far outweighs our own human power.
                                

                                                       

    13.  The work of God shined brilliantly yesterday when the vet shook his head at Chirper.  He had said once before he hadn't expected Chirper to live.  But, yeseterday, he turned to me and, with such intensity in his eyes, looked into my own eyes and said, "When I first saw him, I thought his health would decline quickly.  I really believed he only had two weeks left to live, and that was me being optimistic.  Today, as  I stand here and look at him, I would never recognize him as that same cat you first brought to me in June.  NEVER!"  He continued to shake his head in wonder at Chirper. 

    I had the privilege of telling him (he attends church) that the only thing I did different from others who took excellent care of their pets was to pray for Chirper. 

    And that, my dear readers, is the story of Chirper - God's gift.

    P.S.  Chirper weighed 4lbs 6oz. when he came to us.

     

    Chirper weighed 6lbs 12oz. yesterday!   


    Look at the rolls of fat under his chin!!! 


    Guess he's on his way to being "pudgey", isn't he?!!!

     

    As so many think of the birth of Jesus this next week, let us also remember His resurrection and what that provided us.  The ability to pray, ask, and to hear from God.  The Holy Spirit within us to guide us. 

                                           

    Be blessed  ~

  • What am I Thinking of Doing????

    I've been up since 5am.  Woke up with such a dry mouth & throat, my tongue was literally stuck to the roof of my mouth.  I felt like someone had been blowing an air gun in my mouth all night.  My lips are sucking up every bit of Carmex lip balm I apply  - something I've never experienced before!!!  We HAVE to get some humidifiers in this house . . . and soon!!!  My throat is still swollen, Annamarie is getting better, but Luci and I are suffering.  Thankfully, no pain or drippy noses - just swollen throats - which makes eating unpleasant.  I'm old enough to force food and drink into me because I know it's important, my children are less disciplined. 

    Chirper's nails are getting long again (easily catching in fabric, etc.) and when I checked out Sampson's nails he looked (pathetically) like a mole.  Long curled nails.  Really disgusting, to be truthful!  Neither pet will let us near them to cut their nails; so, at $4/each, it's worth the trip to the vet.  And, Jesse left the car for me.

    Today's high is supposed to be in the low 40's . . . so what am I thinking of doing by going to the vet on such a cold day????

    Tomorrow is supposed to be 60°.  "She's crazy!" you're thinking.  No, I'm really not.  Tomorrow morning has a large chance of rain and in the morning it will quite likely be freezing rain.  The vet only sees walk-ins (his way of doing business) in the mornings.  I just called the clinic and the gal (SUPER NICE) offered me an afternoon appointment today at 3:40pm!  Yay!  No going out in the cold this morning.  AND, no racing around here to get children dressed properly, hair and teeth brushed, and shoes tied (no, they still can't tie them so they STAY tied).  I think I can handle this trip.  Plus, little Chirper is due for a weigh in.  My next available morning for the walk-in clinic is Friday, but I have to be at the therapist's by 1pm.  I can't guarantee I'll be to the vet, back home withe the pets, and on time for the 1pm appointment, which is quite a few miles away from us.  We have more cool weather moving in Sunday & Monday.

    I showered and washed my hair this morning around 5:45.  I felt like if I went to the smaller bathroom and let the steam fill the room, I'd feel better.  It DID help, somewhat.  Afterwards, I fumbled in the dark to find my sweatpants I've been wearing under my denim skirt and a fleece top I washed the other day.  I didn't want to wake up Jesse, who already had Luci in bed with him after taking a Tylenol for her throat.  I NEVER wear pants - unless it's sweats or leggings under a skirt!  Shock of shocks - I could care less this morning.  I'm warm!
     
    I thought I was wearing black sweat pants until I saw this picture!!!

    It's very chilly in the house this morning.  Everyone is doing their best to stay warm.

    Stormy is wrapped up snug in the girls comforter.  And very happy about the whole thing!

    Sampson is also wrapped snug in his sweater and "UN-electric" blanket!!!

    We haven't uncovered Tango yet.  I'm sure she is huddled up against the side of the cage against her fuzzy brown blanket.

    Chirper has me to keep him warm.  He keeps climbing (clawing!!!) his way into my arms to snuggle.  Once warm, he's off to explore again.  This is his new "spot" and I'm not all that thrilled.

    He sits in the base of my silk greenery in the foyer.  Enough to be hidden - except from me - I know ALL my children's best hiding places!  But, he's tearing up the moss in the base.

    I'm sure he thought he was in trouble when I moved the leaves and took this picture!

    Everyone was staying huddled in blankets this morning except me in my sweats.  Even Jesse slept in a bit later.

    See the teddy bear on the floor with the blue outfit???  One of the girls decided the teddy bear needed a nightgown!

    I did nothing I had hoped to do yesterday.  I DID bring in some more firewood. I sat on the sofa to read my book and promptly fell asleep.  I could have killed Rissy who must have poked me in the arm at least 5 times and maybe more.  It was to ask me dumb questions.  "Can I choose the DVD we're going to watch, this time?  Can we eat cookies?  Would you make hot chocolate for us right now?"   And other such questions that a person with any amount of consideration would never dream of awakening a sleeping person to ask.  I recall mumbling "yes" and "go away" several times to questions I don't even remember today!  Now that I'm in a better mood and not sound asleep, I must have a talk with her about waking me up for every little thing.  It's not like me to even take a nap once a week.  Until recently, I couldn't take naps during the day AT ALL!  Surely she must know I'm probably not feeling well if I'm knocked out sleeping at 4pm on the sofa!!!

    We DID have chicken last night, but it was take out chicken Jesse brought home.  I made some Velveeta cheese and shells and mixed together a can of green beans and a can of black-eyed peas with some seasoning and called it dinner.

    Amazingly, I went to bed and was asleep before 10:30pm.  I hope all this sleep means I'm healing up from whatever type of bug this is.  Rissy and Jesse remain healthy.  I pray they stay that way!!!

    I paid bills yesterday online - except for the gas company.  They must be using an archaic system online and by phone.  You can't pay more than you owe.  I always pay our bills in advance so I don't have to worry about missing a due date.  It's also helpful if I anticipate a future bill that will be sky high - at least there is some credit built up.  The gas company isn't set up to allow that!!!  I have a big note on the inside of the gas bill folder saying, "Call company to pay - to hard to pay online."  BUT, I thought I'd try setting up an account again and see if things had improved.  They haven't!

    Today's To Do List:
    *  Clean up kitchen and stove from last night's dinner (I'm sure *I'm* not the one who made the mess!!!)
    *  Run the dishwasher
    *  Continue to list grocery items on my list for Friday
    *  Laundry, anyone?
    *  Really try to rest again today, except for the trip to the vet
    *  Pick a new book to start reading - so many unread - so many to choose from (it's ridiculous!)
       (I hope I don't die before those books are read.  People will accuse me of being an eccentric hoarder!)
    *  Forget about baking cookies and fudge - if it happens, great! - if it doesn't, also great!
    *  Don't stress over silly things . . . everything will come together and all that's important will (somehow) get done

    Be blessed  ~


    P.S.  I just heard one of the girl's say, "Pizza."  . . . Now, I want pizza!

  • Sleet, Ice, and Cold Tuesday

    I didn't have a great night.  I woke up at 3:30am to turn off the burglar alarm and let Sampson outside.  I twisted a rib yesterday (don't ask me how, but you can definitely feel it bulging in front) and the pain woke me up.  I took a muscle relaxer, let Samps back inside, reset the burglar alarm and, eventually went back to sleep.  I woke up this morning with a VERY swollen throat.  No pain, but very tight swelling which made me feel like I was choking.

    Jesse said Luci tossed and turned all night (he slept with her in the guest/foster children's room) and he had to get up and give her Tylenol for her throat in the middle of the night.  She had Ibuprofen before going to bed.  Mine isn't sore and feels a lot better after eating a hot breakfast.  Luci refused to eat, so she's back in bed for the rest of the day.  Interesting how children get sent to bed and Moms get to stay up - sick or not!

    Morning shows were preempted for the report of slick, hazardous roads, etc.  I think regular programming has resumed, but I don't watch TV this late in the morning - just when I wake up.

    I got Jesse's laundry finished yesterday.
      
    The dress and pink t-shirt aren't his, but everything else is!!! 

    His laundry basket is temporarily empty.


    And you are wondering, "Why in the world would she take a picture of her husband's empty laundry basket?" (!!!!!!!!)

    BECAUSE,  BEHIND IT . . . IS MY SECRET HIDING PLACE!!!!
     

    I feel better that the bulk of stuff is wrapped - the 3 gifts for each young daughter and one gift for JanaLyn.  I will decorate with bows later, but at least this is out of the way!!!

    I also got our family pictures in some sort of order.  I realized I had too many of Stephanie and not enough of us, as a family.  Maybe I'll be able to figure out the Wal-Mart machine without help this time!  I think I was so enamored of the photo machine the last time,  that I lost count of how many of which pictures I really needed!

    I've turned on the garland lights to warm things up around here and our hot breakfast helped.  I made chocolate Malt-o-Meal for breakfast, thinking something hot would help my swollen throat.  I was right!

    The empty bowls were ready to be filled when I realized I hadn't included one for myself.  I like a little pat of putter on mine and did the same for the girls.
      

    Luci had asked for hot herbal tea, I made it for her.  She wanted Malt-o-Meal, too.  She didn't drink her tea OR eat her cereal.  I tried to tell her the heat would help the soreness and swelling in her throat, but I'm "Mom" and know nothing, and she didn't take my advice.  Sampson got the cereal and the cup of lemon tea is set aside to be heated in the microwave later if she changes her mind.  I sent her to bed.  Surprisingly, she willingly went!

    Caught these pictures before she made her grand departure from the kitchen!
       

    Last night's pot roast went over well.  I used my oven instead of the Crock Pot.  ANYTHING to create some heat!  After dinner is when my rib started to bother me, so I put the entire roasting pan of leftovers in the refrigerator.  Lazy me!

    I'm going to brave the cold in the garage and grab a package of chicken.  I haven't a clue as to what will be for dinner, but it will be something easy and something from chicken!  It truly is cold outside.  Today is warmer than yesterday.  It's 19° today, unlike 16° yesterday!  A thin sheet of ice is over everything. 

    Rissy asked me to light the fireplace and I will, but later.  I have to shovel the ashes out first, and probably will have to bring in some wood from out back on the patio.  Yesterday's wood burned really fast.  There isn't enough in the bins to last us all day.  I think I'll shower and wash my hair, THEN start working on the fireplace.  I sure don't want to twist my rib again - it's feeling pretty good right now!

    Today's To Do List:
    *  Shower and wash my hair
    *  Do "someone's" laundry
    *  Haul wood inside
    *  Take it easy
    *  Maybe bake some easy recipes of fudge or cookies (but ONLY if I feel better)
    *  "Invent" dinner

    I think December school and my reading from one book is falling apart.  The girls don't want school and I don't want to teach.  I really thought if I approached school totally differently this last month, it would be fun.  It HAS been easier, as far as lesson planning, but I think a total lack of motivation is the culprit!!!

    Be blessed  ~

  • Brrrr????

    We got a lot done yesterday.  Summer clothes were boxed up and labeled, and winter clothes were washed or thrown into the charity stack.  At least the garage is a little more organized.  We didn't get the bins back up into the attic, but everything is more orderly.  I doubt that we'll pull either vehicle into the garage before Christmas, so the greenery bins and clothing bins staying in the garage aren't really in the way of anything.  The temperatures were around 70° while we worked.

    I changed the kitchen table decor a bit.  It seems a little more festive and fits in with my apples and rooster theme.

    Almost forgot.  Saturday night, Jesse bought a cheesecake at The Cheesecake Factory after winning $100 from some games that were played.  The worst part of the dinner is that he didn't REALLY want to go, but said yes, because he felt bad turning down this guy's invitation another year in a row.  He was told to be at the restaurant at 7pm, but there was an HOUR & A HALF WAIT!!!!!  He was tired, starved, and what he ordered for dinner (when they were finally seated) was tasteless.  It was a pasta (spinach and white fettuccine) with chicken and shrimp.  I thought he might not have liked it because he's used to putting hot sauce on everything, but he brought leftovers to me and I had to agree - "tasteless" was the word to best described it.  He said he thought his meal was around $20.00 and was one of the more expensive items on the menu.  I've seen The Cheesecake Factory cheesecakes at Sam's and they are around $20 - $25 dollars.  He ordered one whole cheesecake for the girls and I, and he told the waitress to choose anything chocolate.  THEN, they charged $50 including tax!  It sure wasn't worth $50, nor did it have much of a chocolate taste.  It's best described as an Oreo cookie crust, a sparse chocolate cheesecake layer, and then something that resembles frozen Cool Whip with a hard chocolate glaze to top it off.  I wasn't impressed.  He gave the remainder of his game money to an employee who helps support his parents while he STILL attends high school.
     

    BEST OF ALL, YESTERDAY, . . . . we read and signed our home study! 

    She had a few questions to ask us that her supervisor had questioned.  One question: "With 3 special needs children, how do you think you will be able to help more children, especially if they, too, have special needs?"  I explained our children would be assigned a new child and be a "buddy" to them.  In other words, tell them 1) What snacks we eat and what aren't snacks; 2)  What to do with their laundry and where extra towels can be found, 3)  Tell us if the the foster child has a sore throat but is afraid to tell an adult . . .   That may sound odd; but, many foster children haven't been parented and when they're sick the parent has sent them to school anyway because there was no babysitter; AND, probably not money for medicine at home.  A child might feel more comfortable asking or telling another child something.  I guess that was a magic answer because she beamed and thought it was a wonderful idea.  There were more questions, but nothing as thought provoking as that one question.  She wanted me to read and correct any typos or wrong dates, etc.  She was here from 1pm to almost 3:45pm.

    It was warm while we were working in the garage, but by the time the home study gal left, Jesse was closing windows and the house felt really cool.  We checked the temperature after she left and it was only 34°!!!!!!  NO WONDER!!!!!

    This morning, our less than sunny sky greeted us!
     
    And the temperature, at almost 11am, is still 16 freezing degrees!

    Last night, Sampson put on a sweater to stay warm.  He's SO cooperative when we dress him, but if I try to scoot him to move him in his bed, he yipes like I've pinched him!

    He's so proud of his "clothes"!!!!!

    I followed everyone around this morning with my camera.  This is Luci's "comfort" position.  She's done this every since she was a baby  She stands on her head with her rear end up in the air.  Weird, I know!  She used to sleep that way in her crib.

    Looking at this picture, I'm rather alarmed.  It isn't like Luci to make her bed, unasked, and I don't see the big green blanket anywhere.  I just asked her and, sure enough, she slept with only that thin quilt over her!  She's complaining of a sore throat this morning.  Gee!  I wonder why????

    The pawn shop Jesse is working at has 7 heaters and none of them work.  The building used to be a grocery store, just to give you an idea of the size.  He not only wore warm clothes, but a bib overall to work AND took one of our electric space heaters to put behind the cashier's desk.  Guess he'll be spending all day behind the counter to stay warm!
     
    I can't even imagine how cold that shop will be for the next few days.

    Shortly after Jesse left, Luci decided she wanted "something for breakfast" but couldn't decide what.  Everything I suggested was met with a resounding, "No!" from her.  So I left her alone to forage on her own.
     

    Annamarie is feeling and looking quite a bit better.  She's been in bed all weekend and even taken some of her meals in her bedroom.  I woke up this morning with a suspicious throat and funny sinus drainage.  Don't know if its the temperature change or the germs in my house.  I intend to wrap gifts so, if I start feeling worse, I have that out of the way without having to worry.

    Rissy frosted the brownies I made yesterday.  She called me to the kitchen by saying, "Mom!  Come here.  And, you might want to bring the camera."  I was worried about what I would find.  But it was fairly benign.

    That is  R-I-S'  carved into the frosting!  I say "rather benign" because I 'd like to believe she didn't lick her index finger in between the letters she carved into the cake!  Blaaaah!

    Some comfort foods for today - Gingerbread, frosted brownies, and a good supply of Swiss Miss!!!
     

    Speaking of Rissy, she was snuggled in her bed until late this morning and her dolls, she had cuddled while falling asleep, had been tossed to the floor in the middle of the night when she must have needed more room!!
      

    We have two recycle bins filled with wood for the fireplace.  And a huge trash can filled with wood right outside the back door.  I think we'll be okay!

    So, today's plan is to keep warm and wrap gifts!  I may bake a bit if I don't feel bad later in the day.
     

    Stormy and the bird are in the den soaking up the heat,  Chirper is in bed with Annamarie.  Sampson, in his blue sweater, is curled up in his own bed.  This will be a sweatpants under our skirt day, for sure!

    Today's To Do List:
    *  Run dishwasher
    *  Jesse's laundry
    *  Wrap gifts on my bed, with door locked!
    *  Maybe bake a few easy cookies (MAYBE!)
    *  Make hot pork sandwiches for lunch (new to the girls)
    *  Put a pot roast in the Crock Pot for dinner

    Be blessed  ~

  • Gusty, Windy, Dreary Saturday

    My day yesterday was totally out of control.  Talk about a test in patience!!!  We got to the girls' 1pm appointment at 12:50pm and noticed the therapist's car wasn't there.  At 1:50pm we decided to leave, as she wasn't answering the calls from the front desk ladies.  She drove into the parking lot, as we were pulling out, and flagged me down.  I guess, she had forgotten we had changed to 1pm starting in December.

    So, that was my first unsuccessful part of the day - 1 needless hour in a waiting room.

    Next, I went to the post office to check our mail and realized I had totally spaced out on mailing the two boxes that need to be mailed.  They are still here by my desk.  Strike two!

    We went to the bank to make a deposit (one customer had sent a payment to our P.O. box) and off to Wal-Mart to shop.  Despite the hour long wait at the therapist's, we were still making good time.

    Found a good parking space (I always do - God is wonderful to me in that way!!!) and into Wal-Mart we went.  I remember saying I didn't need much food, and I didn't.  BUT!!! . . . I made the decision to pick up some small gift items - really small!  AND, I exchanged Jesse's birthday slacks for a longer length.  That made my shopping trip longer than I had anticipated.

    In line, a cashier came to me and said I have no one in my lane, why don't you come to lane #whatever.  THANK YOU, LORD!!!!!  What a nice surprise!  The wind was picking up and we made our way back to the Suburban with our overloaded cart being pushed by the wind.  The girls waited in the car while I unloaded.  We got within 1/2 a mile of our house and I saw the pharmacy on the corner and said, "Oh yeah, we need to pick up my prescriptions . . . NO!  NO!  NO!!!!!"  I had forgotten to pick them up at W-A-L*M-A-R-T!!!!!  I couldn't turn back immediately because I had things in the car that were frozen and refrigerated!  I couldn't believe my stupidity!!!  We unloaded things into the garage and only put away the things that were frozen or needed refrigeration.  I called Stephanie and told her to come late and feed JanaLyn before coming, because I was headed back to Wal-Mart and only God knew how long that trip would take us.

    What a traffic mess on the way there.  It was 5:30-ish when we hit masses of cars trying to get home AND trying to shop at Wal-Mart.  It's always busy on a Friday (on *any* evening, actually), and with the holiday season and the scare from impending winter weather, the parking lot was a congested mass of cars and "dumb" (excuse me!) drivers.  I begged God to help me with a parking spot and He sure did.  2nd space from the store's side entrance.  I went FIRST to the pharmacy to get my presciptions before I got sidetracked AGAIN (!!!!) and then picked up a bag of salad mix and went to the deli for fried chicken tenders.  Of course . . . they were out!  I had to wait 10 minutes for them to be cooked and told myself this was a "good thing" since they would be fresh!  Ah yes!  The Pollyanna in me.  At least we qualified for the "20 items or less" check out lanes!

    The mess in the kitchen is more than anyone could imagine and I made fried chicken salads amidst the debris and clutter on my bar.  I asked Rissy to go to the garage pantry and get a can of black olives.  She came back in and said we were out of olives.  That ALWAYS happens to me.  Always!  The same day I shop, I come home only to find something needs to be put immediately added to the next week's grocery list!!!  I was exhaused, but mostly angry with myself for being so dumb and forgetting my Wal*Mart prescriptions.  I had even written "p/u Wal*Mart RX's" on my grocery list!

    We're having spaghetti and garlic toast tonight, since Jesse is going to that dinner and he isn't fond of spaghetti.

    Neither Jesse or I slept well last night.  The wind has picked up strength and we both thought we heard sleet on our windows.  It was actually small rocks beating against our windows!!!  Every time the wind would gust, the rocks would pelt our windows (one long window on each side of our bed).  Chirper must have been cold because he kept waking me up by nuzzling up into my chin or face.  After 3:30, neither Jese or I slept well.

    When I said good-bye to Jesse this morning, I notied the barren tree in our front yard is blowing north and then heaving over to the south, as the winds try to decide which direction to blow.  My front porch is covered by leaves from every tree in the neighborhood!
     

    Coffee is what I'm using to combat the draft in the house and the fact I didn't sleep as well as I would have liked!.
     

    Annamarie started with a drippy nose yesterday and by dinner time had lost her appetitie.  I put her to bed early, and  Luci slept in the guest/foster children's room.

    Here was Luci this morning!!!

    She wasn't the only one chilled by the drafty house!

    Annamarie still has a drippy nose this morning and I'm thinking she may have allergies rather than a common cold.  Hard to tell because she doesn't express herself well.  I asked her this morning if she had body aches and she said she didn't.  I told her to spend the day in bed watching DVD's and, hopefully, she'd feel better tomorrow.  I sure don't want my children to all be sick.

    Luci, JanaLyn & Rissy are watching TV (Frosty the Snowman, I think) in the guest/foster children's room.

    Poor Annamarie doesn't look all that great.  She also felt like she was going to throw up in the middle of the night.  Probably because she didn't eat dinner AND has all that drainage from her nose.  I think 3:30am is when I got up to get the pink "throw up basin" from the pantry.

     

    She turned down bakery cinnamon rolls and scrambled eggs for breakfast so I *know* she really isn't feeling well!.

    Today's To Do List:

    *  Finish putting groceries away (rolling eyes)
    *  Shower and wash my hair
    *  Laundry (mine & JanaLyn's clothes)
    *  Have the girls' decorate their binders for the month of December (IF JanaLyn can stay awake!!!)
    *  Bake a few cookies
    *  Spaghetti dinner tonight with just us girls

    Sounds doable . . . we'll see how things REALLY turn out!

    Jesse' didn't think he'd be home until late because he's going to go from work to the "The Cheesecake Factory" for that dinner.  Rob will pick up JanaLyn around 7-ish tonight.

    Pray for me - I feel a little sleep deprived!

    Be blessed  ~
     

  • Lots to Say, So Little Time

    I must type fast and furiously to say what I want, post the pictures I want, and have time to bathe and get dressed for the girls' 1pm appointment.  Apologies NOW for typo's or weird sentence structure!!! 

    First of all - a story (the place and the people's names shall remain anonymous) . . . .

    I had to go to someone's house in the dark.  When I walked up on their porch the usual cats were there and a new cat.  One poor little cat that had no fur on its tail.  It was scratching and banging at the storm door (all glass) and didn't seem to notice me.  Not sure if it was a diseased cat or had met with some type of attacker who had removed it's tail fur, I kind of scooted it gently with the toe of my shoe and sweetly said, "Excuse me kitty."  When it turned and looked up at me, I sucked in my breathe and quickly pulled my foot away.  My mind couldn't think correctly, so the name "armadillo" came to mind and "rabies" was a close second thought.  My gentle toeing had caused it to scoot a bit from the door, and I waited to be sure it didn't follow me into the family's house.  It came right back to the door, once I was inside.  I looked at the family and (still in a panicked state of confusion) asked, "Do y'all have an armadillo for a pet?"  They starred at me blankly and said, "An armadillo?"  Then I realized that wasn't the creature I had seen.  Still unable to form words (remembering the rabies part of my encounter) I looked at the family and (seriously, I'm telling the truth) this is what came out of my mouth, "Small animal, white, hangs upsidedown, plays dead, pouch (I covered my hand over my stomach), babies . . . "  "A possum?" they said,  "Yes!  That's it!  A possum is on your porch and I couldn't scare it off.  Is it a pet?" I asked incredulously.  Mr. of the family said VERY casually, "Yeah, it's waiting for me to feed the cats."  Mrs. looked quite alarmed and looked at her husband like, "What???!!!"  Everyone laughed - at *me* and the situation.  It wasn't there when I went home.  "Shoo-ee!"  Don't get me wrong, I truly enjoy all animals and find them fascinating and cute, in their own way - but not if a wild rabid possum is attaching my ankle and sinking in its teeth.  That thought isn't as pleasant as the cute furry memory that is *now* in my mind!  It was kinda cute.  Just scratching it's front paws on the metal base of the glass door, as fast as a little hamster would run on a treadmill.  Well anyway . . .

    On to less exciting things . . .

    I had the privilege of taking these morning pictures and shall cherish them even more come Sunday night and Monday morning.

    This is called *sun* and *clear sky* which will soon be gone, according to ALL of the weathermen.
     

    And, this is where we will be hanging out next week while the Siberian cold front pushed down into Oklahoma, Monday - Thursday.  Great weather for baking!

    As many have requested, I have my final garland pictures ready to post.  I took one shot with the flash (you could see the individual pieces in the garland better) and one without the flash so you could see the lights with the "stuff" in the garland.  Then a third picture of the top center of each doorway.  So, here goes with the "family slide show!"

    The bedroom hallway door
     


    Shadows and "smeary" lights make it hard to see.  There are geranium blooms, evergreen sprigs with snow, and then the red berries birdhouses, and the same birds you've seen before.

    This is Sampson's hallway. The hallway that goes from the foyer to the kitchen.
     

    This is the formal dining room door that goes into the den.
     


    Last is the fireplace's mantel in the den.  This was the one that was the hardest to decorate because the entire thing kept rolling forward and falling.  I approached it gingerly, as I add the "white stuff" final touches!!!
     

    I added a bit more to the centerpiece on the dining room table.   And, the napkins are folded and ready for a meal!
     

    Some animal family members are having a hard time differentiating between real and fake birds!  Last year, Stormy "killed" several of the doves and cardinals and if you look closely, no birds are placed down low in any doorway.  HOWEVER, the dining room table is a different story.  Chirper is the worst, but Stormy isn't totally innocent either.  They are VERY sure these birds are real and up for grabs!!!  Bad cats!!!  We eat off of placemats, so those of you thinking "cat on the table? . . . ick!" please don't worry.  The napkins will be washed before a meal is actually served and placemats will be under all plates and silverware!

    Stormy was comfortable perched on the sofa and trying to wake up this morning when "you know who" had to appear on the scene and ruin her peace!

    I think she was sure Chirper couldn't reach her, but you can see by his blurred left paw how he was batting at her again and again!

    He's young enough and feeling healthy enough (Praise GOD!!!) these days and has a personality that DOES NOT QUIT if he sets out to do something or if he wants something!
     

    Look at him jumping at Stormy with *both* paws, evidenced by the double streaks in the picture!  She still was thinking there was no way his unsuccessful attempts would bring him close to her, and she didn't even flinch!  She sort of looked at him like, "Whatever!"

    But, as Chirper's world would dictate, he won and smugly sat close to her.  It didn't take long before she jumped down and left the room!

    Today's To Do List:
    *  House has been vacuumed and I need to put last night's dishes in the dishwasher - that's it for house work
    *  Enter a few checks in Jesse's lawn business books (hooray for late payers!)
    *  Take the girls to their therapy appointment
    *  Stop at our post office box (maybe more checks in the mail???)
    *  Mail some boxes
    *  Stop at bank to make a deposit
    *  Grocery shop - VERY small list
    *  Make it back home early today (?????) wouldn't that be wonderful?

    I guess it will be leftovers for dinner, tonight.  I need to check first and be sure there is enough food left over!!!!  JanaLyn comes tonight and we will have Saturday school, tomorrow.  I don't think I'll have time for school today unless I can work it in when we get home, which will hopefully be earlier than usual.

    Be blessed  ~

  • No Thursday Thirteen Today

    I'd say "No Thursday Thirteen because I'm lazy," but that's not exactly why! 

    I've been busy this morning paying bills, filling out an application for Jesse, making phone calls, and cleaning my desk.  That's not "lazy" - is it?

    Still haven't put the "white stuff" in my garlands, but will do that soon.  My desk is as clean as it's going to be for today.  Despite the clutter of "important piles" that are left, it is much cleaner than it was earlier this morning!!!

    I've had to fish out my "Growing Kids God's Way" book from the stack of "important piles" because I have that class to attend tonight.  I had to ask each of the three girls to answer questions as part of my "homework" and see how their answers compared to my own, as far as what's important and how we each express ourselves.  Interesting!

    I had a banana and two pieces of toast for breakfast.  Lunch is still and hour and a half away but my stomach is thinking differently!  Self control!  Self control!

    I got most things on yesterday's list finished.  Even taught home school with JanaLyn as part of the group. 

    I don't think she cares much for my new way of teaching during December.


    It's another cold day, but slowly warming up each day for the rest of the week.  60's this week-end and then Monday & Tuesday *ALL* TV stations are saying ice, sleet, freezing rain, and maybe snow.  Lovely!  I'm just glad we have no where to go.

    Today's To Do List:
    *  Rissy's laundry (she's currently turning her clothes right-side-out!!! and sorting them)
    *  I think we're having pork roast dinner tonight, even though I have to leave at 7pm
    *  Put up "white stuff" in garlands and take bins to the garage
    *  Put plaid napkins on formal table (the finishing "touch")
    *  Vacuum floor AFTER decorating
    *  It would be wonderful if I could wrap a few gifts, but we'll see - it's not a priority
    *  Separate two 10lb chubs of ground beef into quart freezer bags - Jesse brought it home yesterday

    Tomorrow is my errand day and I want to do as much around here as possible today, so I don't feel pressured tomorrow.  Jesse is going to a dinner Saturday (I was invited, but we have no babysitters AND I have JanaLyn).  Someone he used to work for at a pawn shop.  The guy wants to do a partnership pawn shop with Jesse.  Nice guy, but Jesse really doesn't like going without me.  He's told the guy "no" every year he's been invited and felt he couldn't turn him down again this year.  They are eating at the "Cheesecake Factory" and he said he'd call me, read the menu to me, order what *I* thought sounded good, and then eat only half of the meal and bring the other half to me!!!  Thoughtful . . . but, not likely!  I've never been there and have heard their meals are as good as their cheesecake desserts.  But, they are pricey.

    Rather slow day.  I've read one chapter in my new book yesterday.  Kept getting interrupted!!!  Maybe I'll read more today or just be like JanaLyn and . . .

    That's her tattered and shredded "Blue Blankie" in her arms!  Jesse was playing with her, pretending to pull it, and she sternly told him, "No, Popo!!!  You might rip it!"  We both chuckled - she freely tells us "Blue Blankie's guts fell out, but she's still okay!"

    Be blessed  ~