August 10, 2010

• Just So You Know . . .

                                                      LOL!!!           

  Just so you know, I’m doing just fine. 

  Really, I am!

  I’ll post some quick pictures (only a fraction of what I’ve taken over the past few weeks) and dialogue, then you will know I’m really here.

  Well, maybe you won’t. 

  I don’t have any pictures of myself!  I’ve been *BEHIND* the camera!

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

  First was JanaLyn’s birthday party (back on July 24th).

                                           
                                                                 She had a delicious ice cream cake.

  AND, she had a pool party.  I sat in the shade, but still got a sunburn on my whiter than WHITE forehead!

                            
  The corner area we used (around the pool) was decorated with bright colors of summer flip flops and pink flamingos – very pool party-ish! 

  She was thrilled that a ladybug (one bug she actually L.O.V.E.S.) landed on her and stayed with her during the whole party as she walked around.  She named her “Dot.”  What a special girl, she is.  Even the bugs like her!

                                    

  We went by JanaLyn’s house the next Monday for her REAL birthday.  We brought 2 gifts from Jesse and I and barely had time to say, “Happy Birthday,” before we had to leave.

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

  Next was the church picnic.  I think that was the following weekend.  On a Saturday.

              
                                  Jesse helped cook the burgers, sausage, and ribs (WONDERFUL ribs!).

  And, *I* held down a yard chair in the shade and also took pictures.  Even though I was in the shade, my forehead was burned for a second time!  Must be all of the medicine I take daily.

  The girls were baptized in the pool by Pastor C.J.

         
                                                Annamarie

      
                                                     Rissy

      
                                                  Luci

  Funny story about this pool.  I heard people saying that it wasn’t a chlorine treated pool.  Several children said the water tasted funny (meaning: awful).  Rissy went there with a purple t-shirt over her bathing suit, and she came home with a light pink one.  The navy underwear Jesse wore under his shorts, came back brownish purple.  I have NO IDEA what they used, and I haven’t asked if any other guests came home with color altered (dyed) swim wear!

  This is the poor girl who died before the next morning.  She and I sat together for quite a while and got to know each other.  We talked about homeschooling.  She had a masters degree and said her public school comp teacher was upset when she wrote an essay on the benefits of homeschooling a child.

                                                   

  She left behind 3 children, who are living with their grandpa and step-grandma.  Such a shock.  Of course, Jesse and I jumped in and will do what we can to help the grandparents get on their feet since they are “new” parents again.  There is a lot of legal stuff about gaining guardianship and then help needed with clothing, etc.  The church members are doing what they can to make the transition easier for everyone.  The children are starting back to school next week.  What a turmoil for the whole family.

  We didn’t attend the funeral.  Two days after the party (Monday evening) I became very ill with a stomach bug.  I had stomach cramps, body aches and a horrible headache for about 5 days.

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

  Luci’s birthday was Thursday, August 5th.  I was beginning to feel better if I took aspirin for the aches and pains.  But, food still wasn’t all that appealing to me.

                  

  We had a small celebration, just us five, and one of Luci’s older sister’s (Nikki) called her from Denver that night.  Her dad took her to Red Lobster for a shrimp lunch, while I was at the cancer place getting my routine IV (and extra fluids because I had become dehydrated) and her sisters were in their therapy session.

                                
                                          
                                                                  The girls all love both of their big sisters.

  Her sisters gave her the gifts from them, and Dad & I gave her a few from us.  Dad cooked chicken legs on the grill and we had a delightful fruit salad and green beans.

                        
                                              One gift from us was a baby doll that talks.

  This was the day we had the homemade cherry chip cake.  It was SO HOT, the frosting never did firm up.  It continued to run all over the cake plate for days!  Kind of a slow ooze!

                       
                                     But, it tasted good, and Luci was pleased.

                    

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

  Our company arrived the next day – late, in the middle of Thursday night.  They slept in Friday morning and we talked and visited most of the day. 

  Luci’s party with the decorations, fancy cake, etc. was on Saturday, the 7th.

                        

  She was happy with her decorations and pleased that we had out of town guests to share her day.

  Decorations were all different colors of bright flowers  – kind of a spring flower garden theme, I guess.  We threw shiny table confetti in different colors to make things sparkle!

             

  Since this is the last “decorated” birthday party for the last of my young children, I dug through my party bin and gave out every party favor I could find.  That ended up being a HUGE mistake, as each child had a variety of about 4 noise makers a piece.  What a LOUD party!!!!!

  
                           
  The children stuffed their faces with Daddy’s grilled cheese burgers, pickles, and chips.  Then we had another birthday cake with Neapolitan ice cream.

                 
                                   I got a good picture of Luci and cousin Kathleen (4 years old) with Jesse.  
                                                   The girls love him!  ALL the girls, young AND old! 

             
                                                    Many, MANY pictures have been taken,
                                but this is a handful to take the place of my usually punctual posts!

  People have begun to message me and ask if something was wrong or if I was still busy.

  I guess y’all can tell  -  I’m still busy and having a great time!

  I’ll write soon and post more pictures.  That’s a promise, as I am continually taking lots of pictures!

  Be Blessed  ~

  • 7:11 pm
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