Month: February 2009

  • The Birthday Bash - In Part

    Too many photos to show.  You can skim past them and get the feel of all that Rissy put together.  She has a great eye for color and textures and a big heart because this was all kept a surprise from her sisters & JanaLyn.

                                     The presents from Mom, Dad, and sisters. Lots of pink and light green!
                                              

    The Table
    Pink and red flowers and hearts with some of my china tea cups and saucers.  Strawberry wrapped candies thrown around on the table.  Each place setting had a rose bud in a glass "vase" and a red or pink candle in a glass holder.
      
     
    The rosebuds were in salt and pepper shakers (the tops removed!) and the candle holders happened to match!
                                      

    The carnations and roses arrangement also held tulle ink pens and heart suckers as party favors for her guests.
      

    I ordered the cake over the phone and described the type of party and Rissy's age.  I told her about the hearts and roses theme and I think the cake decorator did a fabulous job!

    Not only was the cake adorable, it was a moist marble cake with Cool Whip-type frosting.  YUMMY!

    The Required Dress Code

    Besides the thrill everyone got when they saw the table and the surprise Rissy had planned, they were ecstatic when they were told to reach into the dress-up clothes box and choose a "party dress" to wear to the tea party.  Each of them chose their own dress and accessories and NO ONE argued over the clothing!!!


      
    Annamarie, Luci, Rissy, & JanaLyn                                      Annamarie

                         
         Luci                                                                             JanaLyn

                                                                                 Rissy
                                                

    The Menu

    There were celery and carrot sticks with ranch dressing dip.  A relish tray of different pickles and olives.
     

    The sandwiches were cut into the shape of hearts (buttermilk & whole wheat bread) with a large cookie cutter Rissy found while shopping.  The sandwiches were:  pastrami & cheese, smoked turkey & cheese, pimento & cheese, and cream cheese (with black olives & dill mixed in) topped with thinly sliced cucumbers.  A lot of cheese, I know!

    Sanwiches                                                                         And, prayers before eating
      
    The pink doily hearts were used as coasters for their water glasses.


    The Conversation

    Oh!  If only I had recorded the tea party chatter and conversation.  They were so sophisticated in their use of the language and use of impeccable manners.  The adults were in the den laughing at the comments made at the table to each other.  "My these are dainty sandwiches."  "This tea is absolutely delicious.  How DID you make it?"  "How have you been?  I've missed you, so!"   LOL!!!   Now look at the pictures and imagine the chatter among the little girls!

      
    That is strawberry kiwi tea in the tea cups (with lots of sugar!).

                                                                             JanaLyn - "on sugar"!!!
                                   

    The Gifts

    I love our family.  Everyone gets so excited when someone else gets gifts.  They all truly are happy for the person receiving gifts and last night made many comments of how Rissy had been blessed.
     

     

    The two favorite gifts?

    A box of chocolates from JanaLyn & Stephanie.
       
    You can barely see it, but Rissy's mouth dropped open when she saw that box of candy!

    Then . . .  Months ago, before Christmas,  I was able to take advantage of a sale at The San Francisco Music Box Company.  Rissy loves watching "I Love Lucy" and there was a snow globe (she collects them) on sale that played the "I Love Lucy" theme song.  Her dad helped her unwrap it.

      

    Since I was behind the camera, I didn't get to see her reaction when she realized what was in the box.  Stephanie said Rissy jumped when she saw it was something to do with "Lucy" and then her eyes bulged when she saw it was a snow globe.  BUT,  when she saw it was a scene from the show where Lucy & Ethel worked in a candy factory (a classic show) and she heard the music . . . her face tightened and Stephanie thought Rissy was so surprised and touched that she was going to cry.  Jesse told me the same thing later.
      

                          Utter delight and joy over the "I Love Lucy" snow globe with the show's music.
                         

    The Cake

                            She hated to contemplate cutting into it!  She thought it was beautiful.
                                 

    AND, I had some trouble lighting the cake.  Tough candles with lots of wax.  But, it was finally lit.
                                  
                                                     And, we poured more sugar into them! 

    So there you have the birthday - in part.  I saved the funny pet pictures for another blog.  I think I've saturated you enough with decorations of hearts and flowers, party food, tea, lots of sugar, presents, and little girl chatter!

    I will say, Jesse made me wash and put the china cups and saucers back in my china cabinet BEFORE I even served the cake!  He said he couldn't believe I had let them use my collectible cups and saucers.  He thought it was "nice" of me, but couldn't believe I had done it!  I figure you can't take it with you . . .

    Be Blessed  ~


  • HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RISSY!!!


    HAPPY BIRTHDAY
    RISSY!!!!

    Today Rissy turns 8 years old.  EIGHT????  I remember when she didn't even weigh 8 pounds!!!

        

    She's the most sensitive of my children and the silliest of all five daughters!
                                   
    I remember after finding her and taking this picture, she asked with a giggle, "So what are you going to do, now?  Beat me?"

    Last year
     

    This morning

                              

    Rissy is a mixture of maturity beyond her years with lots of little girl left in her!  She is the responsible one - so much like I was when I was growing up.  Encouraging her to not worry and not feel responsible is tough to do.  We can say the words, and she can act carefree, but she is responsible, anyway, and pays attention to details  - whether we like it or not.

                              

    That doesn't mean she doesn't forget to give the dog water, to study her spelling words, etc.  She's observant.  She knows her way around town, the highways, etc.  She can cook.  She can clean.  She does very well in school.  She's self-motivated (I'd put her against any adult!), and she has a great sense of humor.  She's also very much aware of someone who is hurting or struggling with something.  She shares joy with people who are feeling joyful and is genuinely happy for someone when something nice happens to them.

    Right now her front teeth are trying to grow back in - she looks like a little girl.  But this is the same little girl who whispered to me yesterday while I battled over taxes and figuring gas mileage, "Don't forget to order my cake.  Do you want me to do it for you?"  She was not being selfish.  She was truly reminding me and realized I was covered up in taxes and she thought she could be of service to me.  How could I forget a child's birthday cake???  Maybe she figured I forget almost everything else these days and I needed a nudge or some extra help!!!

    This is my child who enjoys serving others.  Much like her Daddy.  I'm a bit that way, but Jesse is more so and so many facets of her personality and sense of humor remind me of her Daddy.  Of course, he thinks she is just like me and even calls her his "little Cher'"!!!

    Despite the busyness with taxes, I wrapped her gifts and they are stashed away high in my closet and in Jesse's closet until this evening.
     

    After praying, we called the foster worker back and told them we were very interested in taking in the 3 foster sisters, IF they want to be together.  We got some more info on each of them.  Such a sad family with a not so great history!  In order for the foster girls to be together, we told them we'd have to do the move next week and the worker was incredibly willing to work with us and meet our demands.  The girls and I talked about the problems that might occur (language we don't use & topics they might talk to our children about - topics where our girls are still innocent) and this morning I told Rissy I might ask the older child (almost 12) to help me in the kitchen with cooking.  I wanted Rissy to know she would still do things in the kitchen, but might have to share her responsibility. She looked concerned about the sharing.  Then I added, "I won't be sharing my love.  You'll still get all the love you get now, but this older girl needs to be given a chore around the house and kitchen duty might be the best for her age."  Rissy breathed a sigh.  She wasn't worried about her kitchen chores being diminished but, rather, my love for her.  Once she understood "why" I made the decision, she was very willing to step aside.

                            

    The party tonight should be lots of fun.  She wanted it to be a surprise to everyone else.  She has always deflected praise and attention and tried to make things equally nice for others involved.  So what's the big surprise???  A tea party.  The hearts and roses was Rissy's idea for a theme.  Her cake (hopefully) will have roses and hearts in the right colors!  I will set the table late in the afternoon with all of the pretty things she picked out and it will be a surprise "to the other children" - not Rissy.  Rissy planned every detail and when you see pictures, you'll see how much she notices small things.  The biggest surprise she'll spring on her guests????  We have a dress up box of satiny, etc. dress up dresses.  Dresses that look like little girls must have worn them to beauty pageants, or whatever.  Each child will be asked to put on a fancy dress and then we will use REAL tea cups and saucers to serve tea.  Finger sandwiches filled with her ideas for filling and only one of my ideas.  Relish tray.  Veggies.  It should truly be a great time for all of the girls.

    My Suburban sprung another bad tire valve (this is the third one since last fall!) last night when Jesse took it to the gas station to fill up.  He's gone now to fix the valve.  It's happened all three times when he was driving and I'm so grateful God didn't let that happen while I was on the road!  Sampson needs to go to the vet and Jesse will take him there this morning and take Rissy with him.  Sampson needs something like a diuretic pill, as I believe he may have heart problems.  After that, we will all go to an early lunch and then the therapist appointment at 1pm.  The cake should be ready to pick up at 3pm. 

    That's the basic plan.  All house cleaning, taxes (which I ended up taking standard deductions and not needing my hours of work on gas mileage figures, etc. -  grrrrrr!), foster children provisions, and all else will be put on hold today.  Our typical birthday behavior -

    IT'S ALL ABOUT THE BIRTHDAY PERSON!!!!!!

             

    Be Blessed  ~

  • Reprieve and Slight Restoration

    The painter, Don, isn't coming today.  He is ill.  In no way am I glad he is ill, but I'm definitely glad he won't be here painting today!  It gives me a little time to play catch-up!  It will be next week before he returns.

    A lot happened yesterday.

    Some rooms are completed - the walls AND ceilings.  We were able to eat in the kitchen last night.  Still amid the painter's rubble in the corner and the den's curtain rods on top of the home school stuff.  BUT . ..  the table was cleared and held our plates of grilled cheese sandwiches and bowls of chicken noodle soup!
      

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

    Jesse went to bed early last night.  He took some Nightquil and it knocked him out like a light.  Well . . .  until I began the flower arrangement for Rissy's birthday table.  I filled the base of the vase with clear marbles.  I was working in the bathroom on my sink and counter to hide from the girls.  When I opened the bag that held the marbles, they went everywhere, and made lots of clackity clack noise as they dropped onto the tile floor and into my sink.  The noise nearly made poor Jesse's heart stop.  He woke up in a panic to this horrible loud sound he couldn't identify!

    The arrangement, Rissy came up with, WILL look great on her table.
      
    The white tulle with plastic red hearts are the tops of ink pens.  The different shades of pink in the flowers match her napkins perfectly!

                      
    I'll balance out the flowers better once the arrangement is on the table.  It's being squished into the top of my closet to be hidden until tomorrow.  Those are little miniature suckers in the shape of hearts sticking out here and there.  The tulle pens and candy suckers are for her "guests" to take.  I'll let Rissy keep the flowers in her room after her birthday, if she wants.  She's a huge fan of roses AND pink.  The carnations and roses make a nice arrangement.

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

    The ceilings in "ceiling white" paint color have brightened up the rooms.  He used the same cream on the foster children's room ceiling that was on the walls, but even *that* freshens up the room and is an improvement.

    Foster children's room                 The bedroom hallway                Our bathroom and wall ceiling
         
    See how the light bounces off of the hallway ceiling in the second picture?  Our bedroom has a wall that doesn't go to the top and divides the bathroom from the bedroom.  Only the bathroom ceiling and the space over that wall has been painted white.  You can sure see the difference in the ceiling colors!  That's how it is all over the house.  I don't know what color they used on the ceilings here, but we've never come close to matching it.  It's almost a yellowy-beige.  I'm really pleased with the bright white color.

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

    I may teach at the dining room table for a while.  I like the spaciousness of the table AND the comfy chairs.  I don't like the fact that our dining room doesn't look so great to people walking in the front door.  But, we ARE a family with children and they ARE home schooled!

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

    I had an unexpected call from Stephanie last night.  She lost her job.  She was so depressed and down on herself.  She was doing front desk work for a styling salon and they said she wasn't fast enough on Saturdays when they were the busiest.  They all love her, will give her an excellent reference, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.  I'm worried about her.  She made enough comments to make me concerned about deep depression.  She struggled in school with fairly severe learning problems and doesn't have many skills.  Especially office skills.  I don't know what to tell her.  She was finally making enough to not be stressed over paying bills, and now she has to start all over again.  She said she feels like a teenager and not like a 30yo adult.  She doesn't have the patience for being taught anything by me, which is sad - since I'm a teacher, of sorts.  Anyway, I'm concerned and would appreciate your prayers.

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

    I had another call that surprised me.  We've been approved as foster parents yesterday morning!!!!  They called us right after lunch!  They had a set of 3 Hispanic girls they wanted to place with us.  They are all having birthdays, yesterday, in March, & in April.  The oldest is going to be 12 and the youngest was turning 7 yesterday.  The younger ones were placed in a foster home last Friday and the oldest was still in the shelter.  The new foster mother of the youngest children had treated them all weekend for lice.  I told the worker (she was the same gal we worked with previously) to check the older child for lice.  We don't cut (don't even trim) our long hair and I don't want US to have a lice problem.  I called Jesse.  He said he felt too sick to take children, PLUS, Rissy's party is Friday, PLUS we are going out to Red Lobster for Rissy's and another friend's birthday on Saturday, PLUS the house is torn up, PLUS without having received the rest of our insurance money, PLUS not having our tax refund . . . things were a little shaky.  His mind set was for me to tell THEM to "wait" since that's what we've had to do.  We've waited since last June to be approved!  So, I called the gal back to tell her "no" not this week.  She was calling me back at the same time to say the child in the shelter DID have lice, too,  and she would never send us a child that would threaten our own children with problems - not even lice.  Unfortunately, this same worker won't always be our worker - poo!  I really like her and we always worked well together - matching the children with our family.  So we wait.  And it's just as well.  The house is so torn up and we have so much going on in the next few days.

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

    Annamarie has taken to "styling" her hair and Luci's and JanaLyn's hair.  Rissy is the one who has hair that tangles so easily and she makes Annamarie stay far away from her hair!!!  This is Annamarie's newest creation.
     
    She has two pigtails tied together at the very bottom.


    Luci was still asleep when I took the photos above.  But, after Luci woke up she came out to show me HER hair and the neat "trick" she could do with it.
      
    Same hair style as Annamarie's, but it pulls up over her head, and forward, nicely to make a "mask" for Luci!  LOL!!!

    Speaking of Luci; I got their mattress pad and sheets washed yesterday.  While making the bed, I found a dollar bill that had slipped down between Luci's side of the mattress and the wall.  She finds money everywhere and ALL the time.  We need to call her Miss Money-bags!

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

    Someone put my desk's waste basket down on the floor this morning.  I now keep it on top of my desk.  It doesn't look so great on top of the desk - but here's why I moved it:
     
    That's precious Sushi eating my wastebasket under my desk.  Isn't she darling???      If I'm not mistaken, she also has the cord from my keyboard in her mouth.  (rolling my eyes)

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

    So there you have my past 24 hours.  How do I do it?  The grace of God.  That HAS to be it!

    Today's To Do List: ((snicker)
    *  Pull meat from the freezer for tonight's dinner
    *  Teach
    *  Vacuum
    *  Restring valances onto rods for the den and hang up rods
    *  Wash tile floors with Pine-sol
    *  Wrap Rissy's gifts and have her sisters sign their cards to her
    *  Maybe work on taxes again
    *  My child class is tonight

    I need to be thinking about those finger sandwiches I am making for Rissy's birthday dinner.  She found a large heart shaped cookie cutter to use to cut the sandwiches - in keeping with the roses and hearts tea party theme.  Fortunately, the sandwiches are the only time consuming thing I'll have to do.  The celery has to be cut into strips, the mini carrots are good to go, and the relish tray is a pickle & olive selection.  I'll take pictures for sure and share them on here over the weekend.

    Be Blessed  ~


  • My Hooooooooouse!

    My house!  My house!  Everything is out of control.  And, there's nothing I'm going to do about it until the painter is finished and it's time for Rissy's b-day party Friday night. 

    I've quit trying to pick up here and there!  It's impossible.

    The kitchen is bare except for things on the counter top from up high, no carpets, and the painter's extension pole propped up against my sink..
      
    What once was up is now down.

    The kitchen table is moved to one side and the painters "stuff" is in the corner.  Not much room to eat at this table!
      
    The things on the table are the things that were once on then den's mantle and top of the shelves.

    The den is minus decor and minus furniture placement.
      
    That's my "once hidden" mending basket and sewing boxes on the sofa.  It doesn't leave much room to sit!

    All of the den's furniture is moved away from the walls and the valances are down.  Good excuse to clean fabric and sweep under furniture!!!  Who knows?  I may even move the furniture around in there!
      
    Yes, that is an extra basket of greenery behind the table next to the cockeyed lamp shade!

    We are still teaching school from the dining room table, which is a stretch because there's barely room on that table, either! 

    What is that on my dining room table - the end of the table that DOESN'T hold home school stuff???

     
    It's Stormy Azariah!
      
    Yes!  I found "an animal" on our table!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Isn't that just lovely???!!!  (Eeeeek)

    Are you beginning to get a feel for the out of control feeling I'm experiencing???

    I don't think I mentioned the huge stainless kitchen sink is a dumping ground for paint brushes and other things that need to be rinsed off - like paint pans, mixers . . .

    As if furniture and knickknacks in total disarray, animals on the table, and homeschool in a different school house isn't enough of an upset - Sampson & Sushi are going at it this morning already.

    The animal impasse.

    All Sushi wants to do is bite Sampson's leg or ear.  What's the big problem with that??!!

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

    Let's see - what else???  Jesse has a nasty cold and coughed most of the night.  His coughing woke me up, but I continued to fall back asleep.  I suggested he take the cough syrup with him to work and he did.  He must REALLY feel lousy.  Today, my shoulder/neck muscle spasm is down to a slight twinge when I make a wrong turn.  If the pain stays as minimal as it is now, I can live with it.

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

    What else?  Oh, yeah!  Luci wet the bed last night.  This is the huge high-dollar king size bed Jesse & I didn't like and Luci and Annamarie have it in their room.  I remember a few days ago, Jesse told me the rubber pad I put under Luci's side had slid out from under the sheet.  Uh!  Oh!  That means there may be mattress damage.   (sigh)

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

    I still haven't wrapped Rissy's gifts or checked the party table sack for things I can put together early.  I think I'll work on her table centerpiece (roses & hearts) today and maybe wrap a few gifts.  Fortunately, most things are in gift bags this year.  She told her dad she was pretty sure the Toys 'R' Us box was a present for her.  Imagine her disappointment when she saw the game I brought to the home school table, yesterday!  The girls asked where I got it and I (truthfully) said, "I ordered it from Toys 'R' Us the other day."  Rissy forgot there were 2 boxes and the game box contained more games (one for her birthday and one for Annamarie's birthday in March).  The other box had a Hello Kitty hair dryer.

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

    Rissy called my mom and left a message yesterday afternoon.  She was wondering how my mom was doing and also wanted to thank her for the Valentine's Day card.  My mom called back this morning and talked to Luci, who answered the phone.  She was shocked.  She hasn't seen Rissy & Annamarie since they were 2 & 3 years old.  Now they will be 8 & 9 years old!  Luci was an infant when we left her with Stephanie to travel to see my family for an aunt's memorial service.  She was shocked because Luci answered the phone.  And then when Rissy spoke, she very seriously asked my mom how she was feeling and how her heart was doing - then thanked her for the Valentine card and said, "I love you, Grandma," before passing the phone to Annamarie.  I guess seeing pictures and talking to a real live person are two different worlds.  They aren't babies anymore!

    My blurry almost 8 year old, Rissy.

    Annamarie is in the shower and as soon as she is done, we'll start school.  I want this over with ASAP!!!  Yesterday's lessons drug on for hours with Luci throwing a major fit twice, I had to listen to a bid from Home Depot for new windows, and the dogs fought with each other and Sushi with Chirper do their "thing" of fighting.  It was all very wearing.  The girls still aren't back into the swing of school and maybe I'm not either when it comes to teaching.  But, teach, I must.

    Sushi was sent to play with her favorite toy, "Mr;. Purple Man."

    I made her "sit" and "stay" for this picture.  She kept looking at me and then Mr. Purple Man.  It was half killing her to not be able to touch him!

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

    Speaking of Sushi and Mr. Purple Man.  She just grabbed him from me and took him down the hall to show Don (the painter) her toy.  Don said, "Oh! No, Sushi! Nooooo!"  I jumped up and found Sushi had stepped in his tray of paint and walked down the hallway leaving white paw prints in the hall all the way to behind my desk chair.  NEVER A DULL MOMENT.  We took time to wash her paw, I cleaned the carpet the best I could (VERY glad this carpet needs to be replaced) and put Sushi outside.  Chirper just came running down the hall - but I grabbed him and sent him behind locked doors in our bedroom.

    Maybe I should get off of here.  The girls are playing LOUDLY and giggling and screaming.

    Okay.  Now I'm mad.  Annamarie just stepped in the tray of paint and it's all over HER foot.  I gotta go!

    My hooooooooooooooouse!

    Today's To Do List:
    *  Yeah!  Right!

    Be Blessed

  • Ouch!

    I say, "ouch" because my back pain has returned.  I did well until late yesterday afternoon.  It's not as bad as Sunday night's pain, but still enough pain to make my sleep restless and broken.  The knot has moved from my left shoulder blade to my neck - all the way across.  I still can't do much with my left arm without producing that "ouch!" of pain. 

    Whether I expected it or wanted it, today is turning into a fairly busy day.  Don came early to paint.  I thought he was going to work in the foster room, but he surprised me by choosing the den, next.  My den looks like the summer home of the Kennedy's in the middle of winter.  All furniture is draped with cloths!

    The dark object on the left side of the photo is Tango's cage.  After she finished her initial shrieking, she repeatedly whistled parts of the Andy Griffith Show's theme song.  Enough is enough, Tango!  Chirper has busied himself under the plastic on the sofa and is quite sure Don made a tent solely for his use and play!  Sushi has licked Don to death and has finally lost interest!

    Speaking of Sushi, she dug under the fence yesterday afternoon and ended up in the neighbor's yard.  I guess Jesse will have to put logs or cinder blocks along the base of the fence.  I finally bought her a name tag with my phone number and replaced Chirper's (girl pink) tag for a small silver one.

    The girls are banned from the kitchen cooking & table areas as well our den.  I don't want them causing problems for Don as he paints.  He is working very quickly. 

    Don handed me all of the things that used to be on top of the cabinets for decorations.  Some of the stuff looked like it had a coating of dryer lint on it.  You know?  Those big hunks you remove from the dryer's filter???  It was pretty thick and in need of cleaning, anyway!  I hate when other people see how filthy I live!

    Those items are now on the bar (yet another mess on my never-clean bar!), washed, and just waiting for some to help me put them back up on the cabinet tops.  I still have to wash the silk greenery.

    My stash from the cabinet tops!

    This bunny is something I've had forever and still like to look at.  I wish blue & pink hadn't gone out of style - I still find the color combination appealing.  I'm slowly moving to red & black in my kitchen.


    This morning, Rissy mixed some brownies in a small patch of space left on the counter top.  As I said, the girls have been banished from entering any of the painter's areas and I will have to fix them lunch.  School will be in the formal dining room again.  I'm seriously considering leaving the protective table pad on the formal table and using it for teaching.  The windows (3 of them, all skinny & long) offer a cheery light in the dining room, and the chairs are definitely more comfortable.  The dining room table offers a larger work area AND the white board props up securely against a chair.  The kitchen table tends to jiggle and the white board frequently crashing down on the table top.

    The girls and I ate a quick breakfast of cold cereal.  I usually mix 3 or 4 different cereals together - some with sugar and some with no sugar.  That seems healthier to me.  I notice the girls picked out the fruit flavored cereal (Jesse bought the knock off brand of Fruit Loops for them - gag!).  They are either saving it for last or they hate it, just like me.  I hate the fake fruit flavorings.  The Fruit Loop Wannabes taste yucky to me and I feed them to Sushi!

    Jesse set an appointment for someone from Home Depot to give us a bid on putting new windows in half of our house.  Either nine or ten windows will be replaced first.  Then, the next time we're "rich" (LOL!!! whatever!), we'll have the remaining windows replaced (eight or nine windows). 

    Like I said, like it or not, I have people here all day AND school to do.  Yesterday was a rough teaching day.  The three week break was hard on the girls and no one listened to me.  I felt like I was teaching 3 lamps (that didn't light up!).  If it goes the same way today as yesterday, I'm afraid I won't have the usual amount of patience because my back is pretty sore and uncomfortable and the pain pills make me . . . floaty.

       

    Today's To Do List:
    *  Finish knocking the dust from the den's "dry clean only" curtains, which are in my dryer
    *  Do one of the children's basket of laundry
    *  Teach (it's Bible, science, health, & history day) the usual topics AND the new character trait lessons
    *  Maybe play the new game I bought the girls called "Great States!" - helps with facts and placement of the states
    *  Meet the "window guy" at 2pm (probably listen to his sales pitch)
    *  Maybe wrap some of Rissy's presents (I like to get stuff like that out of the way)
    *  Start my Mexican soup early so it can simmer and I can relax
    *  Take it easy and reach and bend as little as possible

    I took a hot bath around 5:45am and almost couldn't get myself up out of the tub.  Jesse had had a rough night sleeping (his cold & breathing) and I was afraid I was going to have to sit in the slowly getting colder water until he woke up!  As it was, I was able to struggle up (using my right arm) and then I heard him up.  I tried so hard not to wake him up - I even used candles instead of the bathroom lights.  It would have been romantic and relaxing if I didn't hurt so bad!

    Be Blessed  ~

  • New Look - Need Help

    I have changed the look of my blog site, but I'm not sure it ended up being what I wanted it to be.  I had thought I wanted the flowers on a green vine, but the text area was too narrow for my BIG posts.

    *I* pull up just a plain green and purple background setting (with NO vines or flowers), but when I click on what the public reads, the flowers and vines are back.

    I've changed to this smaller font - but this may be to small for any of you to read.  I like the wider message area and know that my long posts will be hard to read in a narrow margin.

    Help!  Any suggestions?

    Welllllll, maybe I just fixed the problem!

  • Bullet Post

    *  Painter is here in the kitchen, so this has to be quick.

    *  Saturday evening, I had pain in my left shoulder, woke up yesterday with a horrible Charlie Horse type cramp that shot up my neck. It was unbearable and made me either scream in pain or cry.  The pain was excruiating.
    *  Feel better today, but the strong pain killer has made my stomach queasy.  I'll take queasy over pain!
    *  Slept good last night - Saturday night was interrupted.  This morning I feel great and rested.
    *  Late last night, I asked Steph' to come over to help me today, but I just called and said I wouldn't need her.  She said to call if I changed my mind.
    *  My kitchen table and cooking areas should have freshly painted white ceilings by the end of the day - Yay!

    *  Planned school lessons yesterday while sitting in den with heating pad behind me.  Took me forever to plan ONE week!!!  I only got this week written down - but that's a start.
    *  Since the painter is in the kitchen, school will be in the formal dining room.

    *  Nothing going on this week except the painter being here and Rissy's b-day on Friday.  We still have to go to the girls' appointment on Friday afternoon.

    This looks pretty plush for a school room, doesn't it?

    Talked to my sister last night and she said Mom went home.  I think she also said she ended up not having the angiogram because no one was at the other hospital who knew how to do it.  Three hospitals and no one could do an angiogram????  Oh well.  My sister said she was going to write an email and send it to everyone so we'd know what the doctors said.  Mom is just glad to be home.

    Better go.  Dogs are fighting and children are chomping at the bit waiting for school to start!

    Today's To Do List:
    *  Teach
    *  One load of whites (in the washer, now)
    *  As little as possible!

    Be Blessed  ~


  • A Cold Saturday Morning

    It's not quite 10am and the temps are struggling at 31° this morning.  The fireplace is roaring.  Things are "slightly" picked up around here and order is trying to encroach upon the chaos of this past week.

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

    I slept a little later than Jesse this morning (must have needed it!) and so our visiting time in the early morning hours was not as long as I would have liked.  Things seemed oddly calm around here - almost like the way things SHOULD be, but rarely are!!!

     
    No toys on the furniture.  No pets running around.  No loud children.  Calm?  Serene?  What's up with that???!!!

                                         Where is everyone?  It's really quiet around here!
                         
                                              Okay, there are the dogs - in Sampson's bed. 

    Chirper is with me.  Where's Stormy?


    There she is, but what is she doing?

    She;s watching the girls.

    What are the GIRLS doing????

    OoooooKaaaaaaay!  Now I understand!

    Donuts!!!

    At least they were doing something they had permission to do.  Last night, before they went to bed, I told them we were having donuts for breakfast. 

    They crept into the kitchen early, without me seeing them!
     

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

    I had a disturbing call from my oldest sister yesterday.  She had tried to call around lunch time.  We must have *just* walked out of the house for the girls' appointment.  She left a message that our mom was in the hospital and it was something to do with her heart.    It was almost 6:30pm before I got the message and I called my sister's cell immediately.  She answered, "Cher', the doctor is here right now.  I'll call you right back."  It seemed like an eternity before she called back.  I busied myself making dinner and NOT worrying until I knew the facts.  As it ends up, my mom has a condition known as dysphagia (so do I and so does my older sister) and while my mom was eating dinner Wednesday night, her throat closed up (it includes tightening of the airway) and she thought she was choking.  She called 911 and managed to say "yes" she would unlock the front door.  My dad (has had several strokes) isn't able to be of much help, so Mom was dependent on EMSA getting there quickly.  They did, and transported her to the closest hospital. 

    She was there a short time and got SOME immediate answers.  They were pretty sure she had had a heart attack.  She was transported to another hospital in Sacramento (an hour away???).  It was a little over 24 hours before they determined what was wrong and allowed her to eat, which is when my sister called me back and then I called my mom a half hour later.  They said she had a mild heart attack and they are *guessing* it is because she panicked when she choked.  BUT . . . Today she will be transferred to another Sacramento hospital for an angiogram and will go home Sunday morning with medication if all looks good.  If not, they will discuss surgery, etc. 

    My feelings were interesting - not my usual response of "Oh nooooooo!"  Of course, there is that onset of panic when you hear a parent has heart problems.  Then the feelings of, "I have been so concerned about Dad's condition, I totally forgot my mother could have health issues."  Then, trying NOT to picture the worst case scenario . . . I guess my old age has taught me some life lessons. 

    I didn't collapse into tears while I waited to hear back from my sister.  I made dinner for my family - something I *could* do that was constructive.  I called my husband to ask him to pray, but I didn't fall apart crying over what "might be."  Finally, the guilt I first felt over being more worried about my dad's health, and overlooking the fact my mom needed to be thought of too, was rationalized away with, "Dad has REAL problems that have been diagnosed.  You don't know that Mom's problems are serious.  Not yet, anyway." 

    So, now we wait.

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

    Today, we have the fireplace going to keep us warm. Jesse wants the rest of the wood burned to use up this year's stash.  Keeping the front of the house's thermostat lower, and using the free firewood, has made our gas bills quite a bit lower this winter. 

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

    Well, I just had an embarrassing moment!  I forgot the painter was coming today and I answered the door in my bathrobe and showed him all of the ceilings that needed to be painted which included a mess in both of the girls' rooms, my room, and the kitchen.  Oops!  Oh well, that makes me human and not perfect . . . right?!  Ends up, his son has his drop cloths and he said he'd have to wait until Monday to start.  I'll be sure to have a path through the mess in our house by then!

      

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

    I ordered some books from Amazon this morning.  I was going to start a series and realized the 3 books I had were built off of a first book in the series that I did NOT have.  I ordered it (99 cents) and 2 others for the same price, and then I ordered the 3rd volume of that character series (based on the scriptures) that was missing from my set.  A $40 book for less than $20.   Yay!  I'm excited!  I knew if I was patient, I'd find one inexpensively.

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

    I got a few more things for Rissy's birthday yesterday.  I had to be honest with her and tell her to wait in the toy section while I shopped for her birthday.  Her sisters knew what I was going to get for them to give her and trusted my judgement.  I found a cosmetic bag and loaded it with a nail clippers, cuticle softener, some heal and elbow balm, etc.  Then I bought a journal (an adult "pretty" one) and a set of pens with 4 different colors of ink.  I got a candle (lavender),  a coin purse, and a book of "find the hidden pictures" in the picture.  When I found the 3 girls in the toy department after my shopping for gifts, Rissy said, "I can't find anything here I like."  And I explained she was getting too old for toys.  She really isn't that old, but she's more mature. 

    She found a book "Anne of Green Gables" in the children's book section.  She wanted to buy it with her money, but I made her open the book to a random page and read to me.  I was shocked that she was able to read as well as she did.  She stumbled over the word "surprisingly" and I don't blame her.  It was a weird looking word!  Anyway, she sounded out and just *knew* so many words that she has never read in her school textbooks.  I was thrilled.  The fact she loves to read makes me realize that there is nothing to stop her from studying whatever interests her.

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

    I have no specific plans for today.  there are enough things left over from this past week's list that I still haven't completed!  Gotta think about dinner, though.  I will have to pull something out of the freezer to thaw.  I started another book last night by an author who is new to me, Cindy Woodsmall.  I hope I enjoy her books because I bought 3 of them, way back when.  I forgot how much I enjoy reading.  Much more than watching "Jeopardy!" or the news!

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

    The girls were ballet dancing around the house and are now watching a movie in their leotard/costumes.

    This picture reminds me of little girls in general!  Sweet, messy, and feminine!

    Be Blessed  ~

  • The Sun'll Come Out, Tomorrow . . .

    It's a new day.  I have renewed strength and determination.  No one has said "No" to me, yet.  I have enlisted the help of the troops.  (also, the fact I had a good night's sleep, I'm feeling less out of control)

    This was seen on the back patio this morning

    SHADOWS

    What is needed to make shadows?         . . .          Light!

                                              This is the source of the light.
                                              
    Isn't the sky beautiful???  On top of having a beautiful sky and sunshine,  God's birds are singing in the trees!

    Such a promise of hope makes me stand tall, take a deep breath, and put the past few days behind me!

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

    The foster "guy" came out yesterday.  Very business like.  Had us sign the papers.  Told us (Jesse said more than five times), "I'm being careful because no matter how hard I try, they always send paperwork back due to mistakes."  They *always* send stuff back?????      Jesse got up and poked the logs in the fireplace rather than open his mouth to comment!!!!  The worker DID say, "Boy, you sure have a nice home with lots of room!"  (BIG sigh)  Yes.  That's why we went to share the space with children!!!!!

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

    There was no child class last night.  The lady of the home where we have our meetings still is having a rough time recovering from her surgery last week.  So, class was canceled.  Jesse drove up to Target and exchanged the 2007 Turbo Tax for a 2008 version while I was on the phone hearing about the cancelation.

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

    With no meeting last night, I had some extra time.  I gathered papers on my messy desk and put the sections of divided "junk" into file folders in a box on the floor in front of the file cabinets.  I pulled the files  (with tax info) in the drawer up higher than the rest of the files, so I could easily work on our taxes.  EASILY???  I don't think "easily" is a good word to describe "tax preparation" . . .  but, you get my drift!  LOL


    Despite the chaotic look, I know what is in each stack.  Under the printer are paid bills needing to be filed.  On top of the printer is the insurance claim info.  The two folders on my desk are IRS files for 2007 & the beginning guts of  2008 taxes.

                                                     And this is my current prized possession.  A 2008 version of Turbo Tax!!!!
                                                          

    Today, I have a slightly larger open space on my desk top!!!

    The piles on the right???  I know EXACTLY what's in those stacks, too!   

                                                                 These are catalogs needing to be filed, a video, the framed pictures of our                                                               family that were never mailed, some school stuff, AND a box for Rissy's                                                                    b-day.
                                                                

    Things truly are more organized than they look!

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

    I started working on our taxes last night and HAD TO make sense of all the stacks.  This is the first year I haven't been meticulously prepared.  My messy state of records has taught me a valuable lesson!!!  On a whole, the desk area still looks messy, but is VERY organized!

    Now, if I can just keep Sushi from eating files and papers from that box on the floor!!!
     

    I believe the pets took pity on me and are willing to do their part to help me file our income tax!

    Chirper is in my desk chair and Sushi is patiently waiting, on her blanket, at the foot of my desk for their assignments!
      Sushi is my "paper shredding" machine!!!!!   Actually, I haven't caught her in the trash.  That's Sampson's bad habit.

    How I wish they could, *for real*, do my taxes for me!!! LOL


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

    So, where are the "little people" today?  They are waking up in the den!  I've had my quiet moment in the den (with Jesse - Yay!) this morning, and now it's their turn.

    Luci is pestering me for breakfast ideas.  I don't know why.  It's the same every morning.  Toast or cereal - LOL!  It took her a long time to eat the charcoaled chicken last night.  NO TEETH up front makes eating interesting!  Jesse not only cooked the chicken outside (while I gathered the tax info), but he warmed up some leftover green beans and macaroni and cheese.  What a treat for me!  I had made a berry pie in the afternoon and that was our dessert.  So tempting to eat it for breakfast, but I'll contain my desire for a breakfast made up of pie!

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

    The painter never came, yesterday.  Secretly, I was glad.  He thought yesterday was Wednesday.  Sounds like me!!!  Anyway, he knows today I'll be gone in the afternoon, so he's arranged with Jesse to come tomorrow.

    Today's To Do List:
    *  My laundry
    *  Vacuum foster children's room (Sushi tore a dry flower arrangement up under one of the beds!)
    *  Girls' therapy appointment
    *  I hope to finish my book while I wait at the girls' appointment
    *  Grocery store
    *  Shop for food for Rissy's b-day party next week
    *  Shop for little b-day gifts the sisters can give Rissy
    *  Maybe, work on taxes again

    It all sounds doable, doesn't it?  I've deliberately made the list light.  I'm easing back into my regular life and trying to leave this chaotic week behind me.  JanaLyn comes this evening to spend the night.  I'm thinking donuts in the morning sounds like an easy breakfast.  I'm craving pancakes, but don't want to promise anything to anybody - including myself!  I'll have to see how things go tomorrow morning!!  I know it will be VERY cold on Saturday, but near 70° today.  I guess we'll be cooped up in here tomorrow with the toothless Luce!

     

    Be Blessed  ~

  • Twenty Four Hours of "NO"

    This period of time in my life has become busy and filled with this, that, and the other.  My appointment book is definitely getting its work out and is a well used and appreciated resource!

    In less than 24 hours, here is what I have "not" had or could attach the word "NO" onto.

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

    *  NO warm weather.  It has departed for a few days.  This is our up and down season with lots of teases about an early spring arrival.  Chilling temperatures prevail.  It's 10am and the temperature has made it UP to 32°!!!  We have the fireplace going to warm the front of the house.  Tomorrow will be around 70° and Saturday 45° - Yay, Oklahoma!
                                

    *  I have NO access to the photos I just uploaded onto Xanga.  They are here, but I can't put them into this post.  (Obviously I have tried again and the problem has been rectified!)

    *  I called and asked for a city permit for our burglar alarm 7 - 10 days ago, but it never arrived in the mail.  I called the police again yesterday to tell them I had NO form to request a permit.  They said they would send another one.

    *  Yesterday, Jesse called on my cell phone around lunch time and wondered why I hadn't answered the home phone all morning.  That's when I discovered we had NO home phone.  Apparently, the roofers, in the darkness of Tuesday night, knocked the cable box off of the side of the house.  The cable people arranged to come to the house after 3pm, after I returned from the girls' dental appointments.  I'm not certain but I'm pretty sure, NO phone means NO burglar alarm system.  It's up and running this morning.

    *  Speaking of dental appointments . . . One "good no" I received was: Yesterday, between the three girls, there were NO cavities.  Yay, girls!

    *  Jesse and I have needed some extra sleep lately.  Despite going to bed at a reasonable hour last night, both of us had trouble falling asleep.  I finally read in my book until I began to feel drowsy.  BUT . . . today at 5:30am, Jesse's mother called     needing a ride to the hospital (an out patient procedure) because her sister's car wouldn't start.  Poor Jesse!  I won't even go into THAT fiasco and what all he went through.  He *finally* returned home around 7am and tried to get some more sleep.  Basically, he had NO sleep and I had only a bit more than him.

    *  I have NO control over Chirper and Sushi's fighting.  They may look docile, but the growling and chasing is constant lately, and I feel like a referee in a wrestling ring!
      
    Yes, Chirper has the dog's bone!
     

    *  With life being as it is, between last night and this morning, I have spent NO time with Jesse.  We are always able to sandwich in a slice of time to be together, but not in the past 24 hours.

    *  Yesterday morning, I left word with our house insurance company that we were finished with our roof and needed them to call us and tell us what to do next.  We have the balance of the claim money still due us.  A *nice* little sum.  Plus, the painter is supposed to start inside work soon - we need the cash.  I still have received NO call from the adjuster.  Translated that means, NO money for the painter.

    *  A while ago, I decided to load the new Turbo Tax I just ordered from Target.  I did and it said "Taxes for 2007."    What in the world was wrong?  I checked my desk and looked at the box.  Ends up, I bought an old Turbo Tax from Target.  Why, in January of 2009, they would sell a 2007 Turbo Tax kit is beyond me.  So, instead of loading Turbo Tax, I printed a return label/receipt that I can take to Target and get a refund (minus the shipping cost).  I have NO way to start our taxes until I purchase the newer version.  I'm not smart enough to try something new (and free) online.

    *  NO tax refund and NO insurance check means NO money with which to operate and finish all the big projects around here.

    *  I have tried to pick up the house as best I can since the foster care recruiter is coming out this afternoon.  This morning I told Jesse that if I could keep the cats off of the counters, the dog from wetting on the floor/carpets, and Stormy from throwing up on the carpet, I'd consider my day a success!  NO telling what this guy will want.  A house tour?  Just us to sign contract papers???  I've cleared a path on my messy desk.  Only a small patch in front of my chair is clear.  The best I can do with NO time this week to do much better.
      

    *  My kitchen step stool is missing.  We've looked in every bedroom and every closet; but, NO step stool.  Where do step stools go, anyway???  (Since typing this, Jesse called.  I mentioned the step stool.  It's in his truck.  Of course it is!  Why didn't I think about it being in his pick up!!???!!      He took it this morning so his mother could easily climb into the tall truck.)

    *  Even poor Sampson is getting NO rest from the younger pets constantly bothering him.  He just wants to be left alone, but has to look over his shoulder for young animals pouncing on  him when he walks.     That's how I feel, I have to look over my should to see what will be surprising me next!  I've made it my job to protect Sampson today.
                                

    *  All I have heard coming out of my mouth for the past 24 hours is "NO, Suhsi," "NO NO, Chirper!"  "NO, Luci!  "NO, NO, Annamarie! "  "Tango, NO NO!"  "Sushi, NO!"  "NO, don't do that, Rissy."  "NOOOOO!"  "NO, NO, NO, NO!!!!!"

    *  I do *know*, I've had NO breakfast and NO bath.  I need to take care of those things soon before someone is at my door surprising me with a visit!


    Today's To Do List:  (ROFLOL!!!)
    *  Eat breakfast & bathe
    *  Make our bed and make the house look semi-presentable
    *  Lunch for how many ???  (Jesse plans to to sit with our pastor friend in the hospital while his wife leaves for a bit)
    *  Finish Luci's laundry
    *  Dinner tonight is charcoaled chicken and "whatever"
    *  Meet with worker and sign foster papers
    *  Go to child class tonight

    I'm sure there are other things I can plan to do, or squeeze into my day; but, I have very low expectations!

    P.S.  Jesse just called and said our pastor friend is home from the hospital.  (a "good" thing)  So, another "NO go" concerning what was planned.

    Welcome to my world!  NO, on second thought, stay away . . . this is NO fun!!!

    Be Blessed  ~