The girls are supposed to read each night for 30 minutes.

Frequently, if I'm in bed, one or the other will climb onto Jesse's side of the bed and read with me.

Last night, it was Luci who decided to snuggle close.

She brought two books with her and I didn't pay much attention to her, as my book was nearly finished and I was really "into it!"

She was extremely still and quiet, unusual, because she is my chatterbox.

I looked over to see why she was so quiet and found her snoozing, with her book open, and her thumb holding her place in the book.

Shortly after that, Jesse walked in and I told him to get the camera.  It was just too cute of a scene  to pass up!

We gently woke her up saying things like:

"I love you the best, Luci."  To which she sleepily replied, "I love you the best, too."
 
"You're our favorite, Luci,"  "You're my favorite, too." 

"Do you love me, Luci?"  "Yes."

"Are you sure, Luci?"  "Yes, I love you."

"Are you going to bed, Luci?"  Yes."

"Are you sure?"  "Yes, I'm sure."

"Are you sleepy?"  "Yes, I'm sleepy."

"Do you want to sleep with bacon or ham?"  "Bacon."

"Are you going to the restroom before you go to bed?"  "Yes."

"Be sure to put on your coat and winter gloves, first."  "Okay."

The whole time, Jesse gently eased her out of bed and walked her down the hall.  She answered every question - the whole time, never opening her eyes.

Aren't we awful?!!!

Be Blessed  ~

Little Bit had an appointment at the doggy beauty shop. 

Do male dogs go to the beauty shop, or is it just called "the dog groomer" place?

Whatever you call it, they did the best they could with what they had to work with!

Our fluffy dog came back MUCH smaller than the cat, Chirper, who is a small cat!

        
He really doesn't look as pathetic as he does here.  I was MAKING him sit still, while I took his picture.  He wanted to jump on Sushi, who was sitting beneath his chair!

It cost a little more this time, as his winter fur was matted into awful knots.  He wouldn't let us get the knots out, no matter how gentle we were with him  And the gal warned me, (on the phone) before I picked him up, that his coat would always grow back again.  I should have known he would shrink to rat size proportion, and kind of look like one!

I'm sure he isn't as hot now, but I worry that he is chilled in the air conditioned house!

She left a bit of length around his face, a little bit on his legs, and shaved the rest.  It looked more like a schnauzer cut

There really isn't much left of him.  He doesn't even look like the same dog.  If it wasn't for his famous bark, we wouldn't be able to pick him out of a line up of Yorkies.

I jokingly said to Jesse (in my best Yorkshire Terrier dog voice),

"They used to call me Little Bit, but now I'm known out on the streets as Firecracker!"  We have laughed til we've cried.

Jesse and I look at him and snicker.  "Little Bit" is an understatement!

    .
                                                                     (Before)

        
                                                                        (And, after)

He came home with a red, white, and blue bow on his collar; thus, the name, Firecracker."

He looks incredibly smaller. 

I should have put a Kleenex box next to him in the picture, to show you how big he isn't!

So now, all we have left is just a little bit of our Little Bit!

But we still love him!

Be Blessed  ~

EDIT:

On second thought . . .

Can you see him behind the Kleenex box? 

He's itty bitty!!!!!!!!!!!

I mean H.O.T. hot!!!!!

I melt every time I have to step outside of our air conditioned house.  I'm a real wimp in the heat this year!

Granted, I don't have to wear a fur coat, but it is SO muggy and hot, to me.  I don't know HOW Jesse can work outside in the heat each day.  

I thought, when people got older, the heat was supposed to feel good!  Maybe that means I'm not "old" just yet!

Little Bit has an appointment at the doggie beauty shop tomorrow morning.  He will be trimmed, almost shaved, very short.  He looks pathetic and has a few knots and tangles I can't brush out.

The girls were up, bright and early, this morning refilling their two pools.  I mixed up the chlorine and they "walked it around" the pool, splashing and stirring up the water.

                       
                                                            (Annamarie)

We had a long day, yesterday.

*  Washed two loads of towels
*  Organized bake goods to mix cookie ingredients. (had to buy more ingredients from the store, FIRST)
*  Therapy appointment for all 3 girls. 
*  Doctor appointment for Luci. 
*  92 million phone calls (I had made) were returned about every 15 minutes throughout the day! 
*  Clothing returned to Target. 
*  Groceries purchased. 
*  Prescriptions dropped off. 
*  A bit of gasoline put in the Suburban. 
*  Chef salads for dinner.
*  Helped Jesse divide meat for freezer (he'd been to a meat sale).
*  Prescriptions picked up after dinner. 
*  Fast asleep by 7:30pm. 

No, that's not a typo!  At 7:30pm I was sound asleep, nightgown on, and under the blankets.  I woke up when Jesse came to bed and took my two night time pills.  I didn't wake up again until 8 something this morning.  And, believe me,  getting up was something I had to force myself to do!

                   
                                                                      (Rissy)

I've done a bunch, already, today:

*  Made the bed.
*  Took my medication and brushed my hair.
*  Had coffee and donuts.
*  Messed around with the stuff on my desk, while I looked at family pictures from my cousin.
*  Browsed Ebay - I'm looking for skirts and tops - I've lost 25 pounds since last summer.
*  Mixed the chlorine for the swimming pools.
*  Helped Annamarie with her laundry.
*  Washed the second comforter from Rissy's room.
*  Now, I'm washing a blanket that was on one of her beds.
*  House cleaner didn't come again today.  Jesse's becoming irritated.
*  Mail came.  A trampoline.  I hauled it into the foyer.
*  Frozen meatballs and spaghetti sauce over spaghetti with garlic toast for dinner (E.A.S.Y.!!!)
*  MORE cookie recipes mixed for freezer storage.

I made something yummy a day or so ago.  Ooey Gooey Butter Cake.  It is everything its name states!  VERY rich and probably absolutely horrible, as far as good health goes!

                                 
                                                                                 (Luci)

Yesterday, I also cleaned out my plastic bin of storage containers.  The plastic containers were piled so high, I couldn't slide the bin into its shelf, because the top was scraping the upper shelf.  Everything is nice and tidy now.

I really though we'd get some storms last night.  In fact, there was lightening and thunder, but, if it rained, I never heard it.  We had a 30% chance.  Unfortunately, where I live, rain does not clear the air and make things cooler.  It becomes more muggy. BUT, the rain is always good for Jesse's langur  (Edit:  Wasn't anyone going to point out this typo???!!!  That should have been:  L A W N   !!!!!)   business!  So we *like* the rain!

I took pictures of the girls in the bathroom, this morning. 

Isn't that the strangest place to take pictures??? 

I must have still been asleep and not thinking straight! 

No plans for the weekend.  Jesse is going (tonight and tomorrow) 1 1/2 hours south with a friend to pick up some things (sheet metal) his friend bought.  I guess the girls and I will be alone for a while.

I haven't even given Sunday's dinner a thought.  We are madly saving money for the winter months, which means we have no business going out for dinner after church.  But, it sounds mighty appealing!

I pray everyone's weekend is blessed with good weather, happy moments, and a restful Sunday!

Be Blessed  ~

It's not even 11am  and the temperature is 90° - another warm one!!

Frantically, I'm doing Jesse's laundry and the sheets from two beds before the temperatures are too hot for the air conditioner to keep up.

My plan is to mix up the dry ingredients for snickerdoodles, oatmeal raisin, and chocolate chip cookies and stick them in ziplock bags in the freezer.  I write the liquid ingredients and baking info on the bag.

Swimming Pools:

Jesse bought the girls a new pool and set it up Monday.

Don't get excited

It's not more than another wading pool.  The smallness makes the water's temperatures feel like a bath.  Rissy calls it their hot tub!!!!!!

The little pool is better than nothing. 

Jesse also brought a big pool home (including a pump), yesterday, from a customer who just gave it to him for free.  We'll see if it ever gets set up THIS summer!  LOL!!

Since the girls and I plan to go to church tonight, we'll all bathe early and then play INSIDE where there is no grime or sweat!   Rissy will get to try out her new LARGE PRINT KJV Bible we bought last week.

I bought some excellent board games a while back, and this would be a good day to spend time together and just "chill" (literally!!!!) in the house.  Then, we'll still smell good when it's time to go to church!!! LOL!!!

Redecorating for Summer:

Yesterday, I changed the bedspreads on Rissy's beds.  She had a fluffy white eyelet comforter on both beds, but the comforter is a bit heavy for summer.  Beside the fact she loves pink and green, the floral bedspread is lighter and gave her room a huge new look! 

(Yes, I over did things and pulled my back muscles!         )

The stuff on the floor is her little pillows and stuffed animals that sit on top of the bed, once it is made!

Books:

I've been reading a lot (huge amounts!) of fiction and true story books for quite a while.  Last night I looked through my bookshelves and chose a totally different type of book.  It's about the "plain people" and how they lived through the 1920s to 1940s.  People have written little articles about what they remember and each entry is never more than 2 1/2 pages.  It's easy to pick up for a few minutes of reading here and there. 

I gave a bunch of my favorite books to my friend, Lori, when she was here last week.  She gets all of the books that I have found to be interesting. 

Lori knows me so well and knows I love pretty dishes, pretty paper, and pretty stationery.  She gave me some of both and they were so pretty, it took me until today to open them up! 

My other "previously read books," collect dust on a special book shelf, until a visitor shows interest in a book - then those are passed on, too.

Nightly Devotional Readings:

I have three books I read at night - the kind with the dates of the year - daily devotions.. 

I've been reading (since the first of January) "Simple Abundance" by Sarah Ban Breathnach which IS NOT a Christian devotion book.  It DOES have some great ideas about how to find out what *things* make you happy.  Because of this book, I've begun a journal, reading and logging/reviewing lots of books, and writing snail mail notes to people, on pretty and feminine stationery.

One of my gifts from Lori:

 
Isn't the box pretty?                                                         The cards with "silver" envelopes!   Woo hoo!  

The second book I've been reading since the first of January is, Manna in the Morning, which I think indicates it's to be read at the start of each day.  I don't read when I start my day.  I stumble to the kitchen for several cups of coffee and try not to walk into any walls.  Reading at night, for me, goes a lot better!

The third book, I purchased last week.  It's a popular title, but I didn't have a copy.  My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers.  *THIS* book, I'm loving.  I'm sure any of you who also have a copy know what I mean!

Cooking:

I continue to experiment with new recipes.  I found a really good apple/pineapple upside down cake which the family agreed they liked.  And, I'm making a simple pound cake (I think) this morning.

This is the time of year when I add fruit to my green salads.  Last Sunday's salad had dried cranberries, walnuts, and mandarin oranges tossed with the greens. 

Well, well, the laundry (dryer signal)  is calling me!

Be Blessed  ~

What was different, too, was no expectation of talking with my dad.  When it was time for me to rest on the bed in the afternoon, I saw his picture next to my bed and said, "Happy Father's Day, Daddy," but wondered if he really heard me.  Did the same thing when I got into bed last night.  I felt like I should be doing *something* for him, but was clueless.    

For the longest time I had two dads - the one who gave birth to me and the foster dad who helped raise me.  My birth father died in 1992, but I still had *another dad* with whom I could call and talk.  This year I wondered what I should be doing to acknowledged these men and realized there was nothing for me to do.  Many disjointed feelings followed.

So, I visited other blogs and read about your Father's Day stories!

                        *****************************************************************************

My dear, dear friend Lori (from Ohio) came to visit Saturday afternoon. 

A birthday party for each of us has become a tradition, during her annual visits.  She always makes me open my gift first, because my birthday comes in April and hers in June.  She knows me to a T and bought stationery, notepad paper, and a candle I'm in love with.  Each gift was, "So me!"

I can't believe she took pictures of Chirper with her phone camera and I never pulled out my regular camera to get pictures.  Well, truth be known, I didn't even pull out my cell phone camera.  I guess I was too *into* the visit and my brain went south. 

We talked about many things.  We talked of God and His faithfulness, and all the things I learned this past year during my cancer battle.  God revealed more of Himself to me over these past 12 months, and I was happy to swap stories with Lori about our heavenly Father!  We relived a few stories of how bad my health was last year and how, this year, I look more like *me* - just 25 pounds lighter!  No great loss - I could still stand to lose another 25 pounds!

She was sweet and asked for my sewing basket, so she could take up the elastic in my homemade slips.  We sat together, side by side, on the sofa and jabbered away.  I shared with her funny stories because of my reduction in my underwear size and some blouse sizes!  The under garments stories I can't write about on here, but they did make for some good laughter between Lori and me!  I'm so glad she had embarrassing stories of her own to tell me!

                                       **************************************************************************

The girls and I gave Jesse a 5 x 7 portrait of the five sisters together (Stephanie, Nikki,  Annamarie, Marissa, & Adrienne).  There was a picture of just him and Nikki and another of him with his sister JoAnn and half brother Richard, both 4 x 6 size, that I put in a double frame.  All good photos.  We also picked up a bookmark for his Bible and each child gave a card they had personally read and picked out themselves.

We went to church and, unfortunately, Jesse had one of those coughing spells he couldn't stop.  He was so embarrassed, to think he might be disturbing people around him.      I got the signal near the end of our pastor's sermon that he was ready to leave early.  We stayed until the pastor finished his last sentence, but didn't stay for anything else.  He's starting to feel better, but still sounds like his nose is congested and that crazy cough that seizes him from time to time.  I can count, on one hand, how many times Jesse has been this sick.

I had made a pasta salad on Saturday, which we ate (slightly chilled) with charcoaled chicken legs and thighs.  The salad was huge and we still have salad to fill a large casserole dish, and that's AFTER Sunday's Father's Day meal!!!!

After we returned from church, I quickly marinated 5 thick fillet mignon steaks (it would have been better if they had been marinated over night) and Jesse took them out to the charcoal grill.  I had put 5 full ears of frozen corn on the cob in some water; so, all that was left was to make small, individual green salads.  I used different types of lettuce, a bit of purple cabbage, shavings of carrots, dried cranberries, chilled mandarin oranges, and walnuts.  It was topped with a poppy seed dressing and a VERY colorful salad.    

When the steaks were ready, I poured the boiling water off the corn, got the pasta salad out of the refrigerator, and Jesse put the platter of steaks on the table!  I'm beginning to really like these Sunday dinners.  The girls have done so well at the formal table.  I usually spill more on the tablecloth than anyone else!

The steaks were out of this world delicious.  It's hard to ruin a fillet - even if you over cook it, the flavor is still good and it's tender.

Dessert was a yellow cake with a layer of cream cheese frosting in the middle, topped with a layer of sliced fresh strawberries.  I lightly covered the rest of the cake with the cream cheese frosting.   Over that, I patted strawberry frosting to make little peaks all over the cake.  Each slice was served with a fresh strawberry on the dessert plate.  I followed the directions (this time  ) as far as the temperature of my oven.  I checked it early and was horrified to see my cake w3as dark brown - not golden yellow.  I yanked it out and didn't even need to use a toothpick - it was pulling away from the sides of the pans and OBVIOUSLY cooked through.  I put both layers in the freezer over night and that's probably the only reason the cake turned out moist.

Jesse took the girls to a friends house for a while (he had to borrow a tool) and then he stopped at Home Depot.  He's considering a gas grill, although we prefer the taste of food cooked over charcoal.  But, the quickness you can cook outside with propane is somewhat appealing!

Since our after church meal was later than our usual lunch, I didn't fix dinner last night.  We set the table for Sunday's lunch on Saturday night.  After eating on Sunday, I fill the dishpan (for hand washing the china) with lots of really hot water, slip the plates and silver into the water, and come back later to wash them and rinse them in hot water a final time.  Annamarie dries.  Rissy puts the china away and Luci puts the silver away. On Monday morning, we remove the tablecloth and napkins and wash them with Luci's clothes (it's her laundry day) and it's been VERY easy to serve these formal dinners on Sunday.  The fact we each have our little routine job down pat helps oodles, I'm sure!

The girls' therapist has asked me to put Annamarie (and then at the last minute, Luci) in a class on Monday evenings for teaching children social skills.  This isn't an etiquette class, but a class that teaches the child not to stand an inch in front of someone's face, look at that person' s mouth, and say in a monotone voice, "I went to the park today."

Annamarie desperately needs that type of teaching, and Luci has been a little too sarcastic for a few weeks (no doubt verbiage learned from neighbor girls they occasionally play with).  Luci's instruction will be more for her protection from someone slugging her in the mouth.  She's not aware that she can't say whatever is on her mind to anyone who will listen.  She's very opinionated and some things need to be kept inside and not said.

I don't like the idea of having to be somewhere at 5:30pm each Monday: another place to be and another place to spend precious gasoline money!  AND, the fact it's in rush hour traffic . . .  AND, I'm usually done standing upright by that time!  I think if Jesse can't be home when I need to leave, I'll take Rissy with me and go to Stephanie's to visit while the girls are in their class.  Hopefully it won't last more than an hour.     

Things are getting back to normal around here, today.  We're back on our chore routines and the homeschool booklets are working well.  Rissy said it takes her about 15 minutes to do the work in all 3 books.  And that's how it should be.  Not a long class, but just a reminder how to add, multiple, measure . . .

I'm going to pay a few bills and take care of a few other things around here.  I don't know when I'll have time to sit here and type again, but I'm trying to make the time, 3 times a week.  

Be Blessed  ~

I'll just stick them willy nilly throughout today's post!

I had a big day yesterday - took the girls to their appointment (which, for some strange reason, was only one hour instead of the usual two), and I left them so I could run a few errands.  I managed to get to Sally's for some "silk" for Rissy's hair.  Then to Wal-Mart for wrapping paper for Jesse's Father's Day gift.

I have been looking at all of the Wal-Marts (where I always buy under garments) and haven't been able to find a slip longer than the width of a band aid!

Seriously, not one long one,anywhere.  Looks like I'll have to shop online.

After racing though the horrendous traffic to get back on time (picking up the girls), I decided to go to a nearby grocery store to see if I could find a refill bottle of my favorite stain remover - Oxi Clean Stain Remover.  The girls stayed in the car with he air conditioning running while I looked and looked for stain removers.  All I saw was detergent and fabric softener but no stain removers.  I had to ask for help and, of course, the girl took me right to them!

That was an unsuccessful hunt, just as the slip had been.  They don't carry refills of Oxi-Clean.

We needed to drop off a package at the post office, so I went to the one closest to the doctor's office.  The line was incredibly long and there was only on person working the desk.  Finally, I turned around to walk out, and muttered, "This is ridiculous, I'll go to another post office."  Another young girl was on my heels muttering the same thing.  She was going to go to one of those package drop off stores, but *I* needed stamps and needed to find another post office.

I chose the post office where we have our P.O. box.  Not exactly far away from where we were, but definitely a chunk of time to get there. 

Their parking lot was also crowded, as was the line indoors.  I decided to wait it out, this time.  At least there were two clerks at the desk.

Standing still really bothers my back, and it did yesterday.  The day before my lower back hurt and yesterday I ached between the shoulder blades.  My pain pills weren't doing their job.  Standing at the post office is something I shouldn't have done, but the package needed to be mailed, and we needed those silly stamps.

Rissy unlocked the doors for me and, as I opened mine to step in, she said, "Hurry Mom!  That man standing there couldn't get into his car and has been waiting a long time for you to come back and pull out."

I felt H.O.R.R.I.B.L.E for making him wait, as it was 103° and he looked miserable.  The length of time I'd been standing in line was fresh in my mind (probably 20 minutes), making me take great pity on him!  Usually I'm not a thoughtless parker, and how I was crammed up against him is a rarity.  But I don't think he was looking for an excuse.

He was bright red and sweating.

As I put the vehicle in reverse, I rolled down the passenger window and said to the man (who was looking at me with NO kindness in his face!), "I'm so sorry to make you wait like that."  He stared at me without even a nod or blink.

So I repeated louder, and with emphasis, "REALLY, I feel awful for making you wait such a long time, and I'm really, very, VERY sorry."  

That evoked a nod from him. 

I'm not so sure his acknowledgment was due to my apologetic plea, as maybe more due to the fact I had a head covering on. 

I think he most likely thought, "Darn it.  She's being so nice and has apologized twice . . . on top of that it looks like she's one of those church people . . . "

My good friend (like a family member) Lori K is coming for a visit this afternoon.  Her family has come from Ohio to a church camp in this state.  I doubt that anyone comes along with Lori. 

But, she and I need "alone time" anyway!!! 

Last year, she came alone and left her children and husband at camp.  She climbed up on my bed with me and we held hands and talked for an hour or so.  It was the worse week of my chemo therapy, because the new chemo drug caused excruciating pain that shot through my hips, pelvis, and upper leg bones.  It was so bad, not even morphine took away the pain.  She happened to come at a time when the pain was at its minimal height of torture.

This year our visit should be more interesting for her AND . . . I have hair again!

My hair is just long enough to clip a kerchief style head covering.  I think I started covering my head again about 10 days ago.  I had been wearing one to church, but the wind easily stripped it off of my head, more than once!
 

I have a cake baking in the oven and the big dishes from last night are washed and drying.  I don't think I have one place I have to go and I'm really likin' that feeling!

I bought the neatest thing, yesterday.  At the Christian store, Mardel, I found a mini goose neck light that clips onto the book while you read it.  It solves the problem of me reading at night and the light bothering Jesse, who goes to sleep before me. I tried it out last night and that little bulb puts out MEGA light, but only on the pages of my book!

I've just finished eating 2 English muffins with butter and black raspberry jam.  Can you say "Y-U-M!!!!"

I need to get off of here, my cake is almost done and the cleaning lady is on her way.

Be Blessed  ~

The rain has poured down on us.  There were some fantastic news reports of people being rescued from the swirling waters.  Some drove into the water and their cars were floating, and some tried to swim and were rescued by helicopters.

A news reporter parked his car and walked back, quite a ways, with the camera to get a better view of the flooded intersection.  As he talked on camera, his news station's SUV was covered in water up to the top of the windows! 

          
That is water standing at the back of the yard.  That's why I never can have a garden here, the rains create monstrous pools of water that take a while to drain off.

         
                                    This is where we have contemplated putting a pool. 

        
                                               Looks like God is building us one, free of charge!!!

I'm still waiting to hear if my request for more physical therapy sessions has been approved.  Meanwhile, I have diligently been do ALL of my exercises and stretches.  I upped the amount of repetitions to 5 more on each exercise/stretch.  Maybe that's why I had a headache last night.  I had a really rough time falling asleep, which I finally did some time after 2am!

             
Luci left the Lincoln Logs outside and they have been ruined.  Nothing more than splitting, soggy wood pieces.  See the high level of water in the bucket?  That's about the same story everywhere you look!

           
                                     No, I can't explain this, so don't even ask!!!!!!!  LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Of course, when it rains Jesse stays home.  And he did, until he and a friend went searching for a used mini van for me.  We're downsizing for several reasons, one being the cost of gas.  I'll sure miss my Suburban!  I can't stand wheeling and dealing, so I've told Jesse to buy something without me present. 

My stipulations:  Not red (inside or outside) and no cloth seats.  And, I'd like as many bells and whistles as he can get.  I like the power adjustable passenger seat and heated seats have sure helped my aching back. on days when I've been in pain.

            
                   Stephanie's apartment.  I should have taken a picture of the sofa set instead of sitting on it!

The apartment was dark and my pictures didn't turn out so well.

But here are birthday pictures, anyway!

                            
As I said in my last post, Stephanie and JanaLyn were invited to a birthday pool party and were in their bathing suits when we got there.  Well, actually, Stephanie had on a bathing suit cover up dress.  But, the dress was black with a hot pink stripe around the bottom, and I told her she matched her presents!

                      
I don't know what it is about JanaLyn and cameras.  I think she doesn't like having her picture taken.  You really have to coax her to smile and, as you see, in this picture, she tried to cover her face!

Stephanie was happy with all of the gifts her sisters gave her.  She got new plastic drink glasses, kitchen towels with Bath & Body Works hand soap, candles, flip flops, a bunch of bright pens (one package was black ink and the other multi-colored ink) and some magnet pads of paper for the refrigerator.  You know, the skinny kind for grocery lists? 

And, she was thrilled to receive new towels and a rug for her bathroom from me.  Jesse had heard she didn't have a toaster or coffee maker, so we picked up some inexpensive ones, Thursday, when we did our grocery shopping.  They only had white, and black would look best in her kitchen, but I told her to feel free to exchange ANYTHING she received from us.

I have several people coming to the house this morning, and I need to eat a bit of breakfast.  I think I'm FINALLY awake!

Be Blessed  ~

Today is our oldest daughter's birthday!

           
                      She was an active baby and smiled all the time.  Especially when she looked into a mirror.
                           (Some things don't change!  She *still* spends a lot of time in front of a mirror!)

                         
                                               She likes pretty things and she likes to feel pretty.
                                She has a pretty apartment that she shares with her daughter, JanaLyn. 
                                                    It's tiny, but just so very well put together.
                                                Definitely comfy and has an "I'm home" feeling!

             
                                She likes children and enjoyed visiting with her niece, Jaiden, last summer
                                                     when Nikki's family was here to visit us. 

It's not unusual for her apartment to be filled with the neighbor's children - JanaLyn is just as social as Stephanie!  Everyone likes JanaLyn's mom!   She's cool!!!! LOL!!!!

        
                                             The older she gets, the more she is beginning to look like me.
                                                      Well, how I looked when I was much younger!!!
                                                         This picture shows an incredible likeness.

                        
                           She's never been a picky eater and there aren't many things she doesn't like.
                                        Like me, she has become a good cook and fixes some things
                                                 better than me - Like scrambled eggs
                                                        and macaroni and cheese!

                                          In the past, when Stephanie has come to eat at our house,
                                the girls have begged me to let Stephanie make the macaroni and cheese! 
                                               "Aw, Mom, PLEASE let Stephanie make it!"

               
                     She thinks she sees wrinkly lines and age spots on her face, but, to me,
                                                she is still a very pretty daughter!

We are going to visit her around noon, but JanaLyn already had an invitation to a child's birthday party, at 2pm.  Stephanie's friends want to take her out for dinner, tonight. 

A quick visit, before JanaLyn's pool party, was the only time that would work, this year.

I'll try to take her to lunch (just the two of us) the next time the girls have a therapy appointment and I *don't* have a physical therapy appointment at the same time. 

We love getting together with the little girls,

but sometimes it's nice to have only the two of us,

with no one's meat to cut and no worry of spilled glasses!

The girls had a great time picking out gifts for Stephanie.  Every year, each sister gives her a little something just from them.  AND, they pick out cards for her.  They are at the age where they are able to read the cards and are picking the ones that really express their thoughts.  It's so sweet to watch them give!

So, dear Stephanie, I pray your day is blessed and you have a fantastic year being 32!  (gosh I feel old . . . )  LOL~~

Be blessed  ~

I've had two pictures posted, this week, of Sushi on our beds.  We NEVER allow her to do that, but I'm beginning to get the feeling the girls *DO* (allow it)!   LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What an active day, yesterday.  I got many things done before we ever left the house!

*  Cleaned off my desk and files things
*  Emptied the dishwasher
*  Entered Jesse's checks in the books and prepared a deposit slip
*  Washed Jesse's clothes and all of the towels in the house
*  Wrapped gifts for Stephanie's birthday and a gift for Jesse's aunt.
*  Answer 6 phone calls about future appointments

and,

*  (by the skin of my teeth), left 25 minutes early for the 30 minute drive to the cancer place to get my monthly IV.

I was exhausted when I sat in the recliner at the cancer place!  If I wasn't embarrassed about the fact I snore loudly, I could have fallen asleep!!!!  I read, but my eyes were so heavy!

We went to Wal-Mart, after that, to pick up a very short list, but a "weird list," of items.

Fever thermomotor,  coffee filters,  oral gel, Listerine breath mint papers, sun screen for Rissy, Mr. Clean Magic Erases, tooth paste for Jesse, and Miralax for me. 

From the food section:  We bought milk, mozzarella cheese, fresh fruit and vegetables. 

Like I said, one of those weird lists!   And, lots of money spent for hardly any food!

We came home and quickly put things away and then drove south to meet Jesse's aunt and uncle for dinner. 

We were late, despite the fact we took the back roads.  5:00pm traffic is 5:00pm traffic.  There's no escaping it!

Since Jesse was the one that invited them out to eat, he felt bad for showing up late.  It was just Furr's Cafeteria, nothing fancy, but everyone got to eat what they wanted, and we had a very nice visit.  The girls were exceptionally well behaved.

The cleaning lady is due to arrive here at any moment.  I have a physical therapy appointment later today.

I need to finish wrapping Stephanie's presents.  The girls and I will go see her tomorrow morning.  She has plans and lunch just wasn't going to be possible, this year.

No plans for the weekend except for visiting Stephanie on Saturday and going to church on Sunday.

I've been doing a lot of reading, lately, and love most all of what I've chosen.  When I'm finished reading a book, I continue to log each book in a small spiral notebook, rating the book from 1 - 5 stars, and defining the story in one or two sentences.

There isn't much else to write about, today.  Please pray for Rissy to get well.  She always has a hard time with colds and throat things going into her bronchial tubes.

Have a happy weekend!

Be Blessed  ~

Yesterday I planned the rest of the summer's Bible and art lessons.  I am halfway through our music lesson planning.  We'll start back to summer school on Monday.

And . .  .  yesterday, poor Rissy came home with a horrible sunburn.  I kicked myself for not putting lotion on her before, she went out in the sun.  Another case of me being preoccupied with other things and not focusing.

I'm so glad our girls don't wear shorts.  She had a sleeveless dress on, so much of her body was protected from the sun's rays.

Monday, after I thought I had all day to read, I realized I needed to be at the physical therapist's office in less than an hour (30 minutes away!).  That day didn't turn out to be so great, after all.

While there, Annamarie looked worse and worse and we realized she had the bug Rissy,Luci, and me had a week or so ago.  She's been in bed ever since Monday.  She said she is feeling better today.

Yesterday, Luci had one of her famous fits.  It was just awful and I lost the battle, not knowing how to handle it. 

Spanking doesn't work - she'd be black and blue if I gave her a spanking during all of her outbursts. 

I sent her to her room (waaay down at the end of the hall) but her high pitched, ear piercing screams were easily heard in the kitchen.  She fell asleep afterward (I'm sure she was exhausted) and I told her she needed stay in her room for the rest of the day, or until her Dad came home. 

Yesterday REALLY rattled my nerves, which is rare.  I normally do much better with her.

I had a hard time falling sleep, last night.  I was praying a lot for others and our own family.  And I was praying about my m-i-l coming to live with us.  One thought led to another, which left me an extensive "To Do" list today!

Rissy finally learned to ride her 2 wheeler bike yesterday.  That is how she got a sunburn. I know my children are well past the age when riding a 2 wheeler is expected, but they have never had the opportunity to ride anywhere that was safe.  I think they are more aware of traffic, now, and they've been practicing on our street.

Be Blessed ~

P.S.  We have one dog who is in lots of trouble.  Look where I found her!!!!!