She went back to the Emergency Room (for the third time) on Thursday, and they admitted her.  She wasn’t able to get her fever under control (100° – 102°) and was still in quite a bit of pain.  The fever is what the doctor had wanted gone, before doing surgery.

As of yet, they have NOT been able to bring the fever under control.  BUT, they are going to operate anyway and do a total hysterectomy.  Surgery is scheduled for 1pm on Monday.

She sounded better and said they weren’t having to use Morphine on her, so at least the pain has subsided a bit.  That is what most people have been praying would happen.

She’s never had abdominal surgery, so please pray that all goes well, that God guides the surgeon’s hands, and that they get EVERYTHING right and she won’t need a future surgery or procedure.  And then pray for an uneventful and speedy recovery – they say 6 weeks.

Regarding her being online:  Her computer is downstairs and she will NOT be using stairs for a while, so she said she would NOT be able to post.  If any of you have Facebook accounts that link to friends of hers, please post something there about her surgery and recovery.

I gave her a bunch of Bible Scriptures that helped me through my cancer sojourn.  Some Scripture was good for building your faith in God, and other Scripture was directly related to healing.   I told her I had little Post It Note type flags all through my Bible.  Pink flags are for breast cancer passages and blue flags are for faith passages – because God is “true blue” and faithful to His children!

I’ll give her another call this evening, but then I’ll speak with Doug, and not bother Lori, until she feels strong enough to call me and talk. 

Message me if you need anymore detailed information.

Be Blessed  ~

NUMBER ONE:

SOMEBODY’S BEEN SLEEPING IN MY BED!!!!!!!!!

        
                                                                       Is it Y-O-U????????

       
                                                            Or, is it Y-O-U???????

       
                                                                      What do I see here??????

What an easy life he has . . . you know?!!!!! 

NUMBER TWO:

The weather continues to rain and rain and bring more rain. 

The great rains have brought two tragic deaths in the city.  Young teenagers who decided to swim in a swollen creek of rushing water.  Maybe not even swim, but wade or walk.  The rapids took one teen boy and the next night a teen girl.  This is known as a very dangerous creek whenever the heavy rains come.  It causes deaths each year – almost always teenagers.  So sad.

      
                          Unfortunately, the color of this picture is accurate.  Our pool is greenish!

       
                                     The heavy rains have beaten and stripped our neighbor’s lovely
                                                  crepe myrtle trees of most of their blooms.

                              
                                  Our own small crepe myrtle is protected by bigger trees around it
                             and it has done quite well, in comparison to the neighbor’s mature trees..

            
                                                                 Our beat up rose bush. 
                             There is only one part of a flower left, and it’s hanging on for dear life.

Jesse tries to mow when he can.  Customer’s call and want to know “WHEN???”   You can’t mow when the ground is soggy wet without damaging the lawn with track marks.  So, he runs out, between storms, and tries to keep up.

Of course, like they say, “The plumber’s house never has the plumbing working properly!” 

And, our grass is the last to be cut.  It’s trying to overtake many things.

          
                       This is a step, or is supposed to be.  You can’t tell with the tall grass blending
                                     the planting area, the patio, and the lowered lawn together!

            
                          The grass is slowly growing OVER things – like pink toys and garden hoses! 

NUMBER THREE:

I had a wonderful report from the oncologist, yesterday.  The MRIs and PET scans from last week not only showed no tumors growing, but the small lesions are also shrinking.  The reports contained more comments on my degenerative conditions (some bone spurs in my lower back and a few shrinking discs),  which is simply “old age” and not life threatening!

I am going to have an MRI done on my neck vertebrae (the PET scan said all was clear) to see if there is any damage from cancer to my neck that we don’t know about.  I drop things a lot and my hands and fingers go numb when I bend my elbow to talk on the phone, or sleep (with my hands under my cheek).  I have also developed shaky hands.  My oncologist tends to think it’s a carpal tunnel problem.  The MRI will rule out tumors in my neck.  She has changed the medicine that prevents hot flashes (Prozac) to another similar pill.  I picked it up tonight and we’ll see if the “shakes” get better.  Prozac is known to cause shaky hands.

It gets to the point where you have to decide if the side effects are something you can live with, because of the over all good of the medicine.  She upped my time released morphine dose (added mgs) because I told her I was in pain all the time; however, the degree of pain varies.  She thinks she can get rid of the pain completely and make me more comfortable each day. 

NUMBER FOUR:

Because several people have inquired, I wanted to update about my friend, Lori.  But, I haven’t been able to reach anyone by phone.  I *do* know it was seriously considered that she should have surgery next week.  Since I haven’t talked to anyone since that last piece of info, I can’t really tell you much. 

I will make an edit to this post if I should receive new information tonight or over the weekend.

In the mean time, please pray for her relief from the pain she has endured.  And, pray for her family to be cared for.  They attend a church that is helpful and full of support; but, five children is a big job for Lori, and I can’t imagine what a job it is for someone else to step in, someone who doesn’t have a routine established.

Be Blessed  ~

I stayed busy with housework and shopping on Ebay.  The girls need half slips and I can find NONE in the stores.  Ebay has them and they’re cheap.  I needed a few thing, too, so I’m spending money at my desk – not necessarily a good thing – BUT, necessary!

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

I made chicken salad yesterday afternoon.  A HUGE bowl.  The largeness of the batch must have been a leading by God, because a neighbor (one whose daughter is friends with our girls’) mom was dealing with 2 children who had medical problems.  Her little boy has a staph infection with complications and the teen daughter had major hand surgery, yesterday (a cheer leading camp injury).  I scooped half the chicken salad into a container, pulled OUR brownies out of the oven and cut and cooled them. 

                  
                                     The basil and aloe is doing great!

                             
                                        I’m so grateful for the neighbor’s crepe myrtle trees!
                                                   They make “our” yard pretty!!!

Independence Day was a rainy one.  We went to church in the morning (no rain, thank you, God!) and it was decided that I would give my cancer testimony NEXT Sunday, as attendance was low on the 4th.

                         
                                   Our crepe myrtle trees are much smaller than the neighbor’s.

Jesse cooked outside a lot over the weekend, and we were able to pick from a variety of ribs, chicken breasts, beef fajita meat, hot links, etc., AND,  baked beans and deviled eggs.  We didn’t even attempt to set the dining room table with a white tablecloth and china!  This was kitchen table food!  And, very GOOD, too!

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

As the sun began to set, there was, ONCE MORE, a break in the rain and we took our paltry bag of fireworks to the backyard.  No chance of fire – everything was soaked heavily.

          
            The sky’s colors of pink, blue and white looked like a decoration for a baby shower for a boy & girl.
                                    The softest pastels I’ve ever seen!  So pretty!

 
             We had white smoke.                                                     We had blue and green smoke.

             
                 And, we had ordinary dark smoke, that spit multicolored fiery sparks and ended with a loud pop! 

As things began to darken up, we went from smoke fireworks to the things that shot colorful sparks up.

                  
              Isn’t there just something sweet about a look of excitement in a child’s face?

Jesse bought some oversize sparklers – the ones that have paper wrapped at the ends.

 
And the girls enjoyed the sparklers and the pretty lines they could draw in the night’s dark sky.

It looked like everyone was having fun . . .

until we found someone not smiling.

Apparently she had been holding her feelings of fear inside and the sparks got the better of her.  She went inside to clean her face and came back out with an apology!  She was shaking with fear, earlier.

After that, Jesse lit the remaining things in the sack.

He had these neat things that spun on the ground. 

The flame made a perfect “O” as it spun!  That is *IF* you set it down correctly!

Last year Jesse accidentally bought some things that shot up over the roof of the house. Not wanting to make the same boo-boo this year, he didn’t buy ANYTHING that shot upwards – not even fountains that only blew about six feet high.

I was a little disappointed.  I kind of like those fountains; especially the ones that whistle!

Soon we were all smiles again and no one whined, “Awwwwww” when the last of our fireworks had been lit.

Really cool!!!

The sky was black with storm clouds, we didn’t get to see the sky display the community center puts on, each year.

BUT, some neighbors a street or two away DID, and we enjoyed those – until the raindrops began, again.

We quickly gathered our burned fireworks.  Jesse had been putting them in a dish of water before putting them in a sack.  Like I said the lawn was squishy with water and there wasn’t much danger of a fire that night.

There was a clap of thunder as we opened the back door to go inside and then the rains came again.  Heavy rain!

Rissy wasn’t the only one afraid.

This is what was staring at us as we came in the back door:

I don’t think the animals thought it was all that great.  And, the bird didn’t appreciate the whistling fireworks because they always ended a loud boom!

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

Some new shirts arrived yesterday (Ebay purchases) and I’ve washed those and have all the shirts for the day washed and ready to go into the dryer.

The girls and I are going to COC (Church of Christ) tonight and dinner will be simple, as well as all of our chores and summer school work done early.  I like it when there’s nothing to do, chore wise!  

Please pray for my friend, Lori K.  She is facing surgery next week for female problems and is in a lot of pain this week.  Pray that her children are cared for AND that the right people rally to help the family out.

BE Blessed ~

Stephanie agreed to let the girls come to her house Wednesday morning and let them spend the night, with the agreement I’d pick them up around lunch time, on Thursday, so they could go to their therapy appointment.  Talk about some happy children!!!  

First thing that happened, after the PET scan,  Jesse took me to Red Lobster for lunch.  Remember, I couldn’t eat after midnight and now we’re talking 12 hours later.  I was ravenous!  I ordered coconut shrimp with pina colada sauce, rice, a salad with bay shrimp, and those DELICIOUS garlic butter biscuits they make.  I didn’t eat much of the rice, but . . .

I ate like I hadn’t eaten in . . . oh, I don’t know . . . twelve hours!!!???!!!!

I ate most of the salad and THREE biscuits.  The third one was fresh out of the oven and there is nothing to describe the flavor.  SUPERB, flaky, melt in your mouth, hot biscuits with more cold butter melted in the middle.  I gave almost half of my coconut shrimp to Jesse (who had a shrimp combo dinner).  We ate and left in less than an hour.  On my way out, I explained to our waiter why I had eaten like a hog!  

Next was the HUGE wait at the hospital.  I asked the PET scan guy to leave a tube in my arm for the MRI people, later that afternoon, and that saved time at the hospital, since I’d already been “stuck.”  We still had to wait a half hour to be registered at the front desk and get a paper bracelet to match my bright pink arm bandage around my tubing.

  After being registered, I waited a while for the MRI person to call me. (Later I asked Jesse how long I was on the MRI table and he said over 1 1/2 hours.)  

You aren’t supposed to wear any metal, so I took out the clips that hold my headcovering in place.  He locked my head between foam rubber wedges (to keep it still), and tied my arms to my body with a sheet (like a swaddled baby), and the test began.  I started the test with a Lifesaver in my dry mouth and a 2nd one in my hand for the tech to put in my mouth when I came out of the machine and received the dye injection.  He told me not to suck at the beginning of the test, as that would move my neck.  You LITERALLY can’t do much more than breath.  NO FIDGETING at all. 

Between the loud sounds, I transferred my Lifesaver from one side of my jaw to the other!  My only friend in the huge plastic tank: me and a Lifesaver! 

Mid way through the first part of the test, I was aware of a horrible pain on my scalp.  Like a small rock.  The longer the test lasted, the more painful the spot on my head.  THEN I REALIZED, my headcoverings have a small snap in the back of them and here I was with METAL in the MRI machine!  

When he scooted me out of the machine to inject the contrast dye, I told him to yank off the headcovering (I couldn’t move to do it myself) and once he did, I was SO MUCH more comfortable.  He told me there was a small dent in my scalp from the snap.  So, I wasn’t imagining the pain.  It was pretty bad! 

He popped the second Lifesaver in my mouth and said the next part (with the dye in me) should be shorter – like around 20 minutes, instead of an hour.  Again, I had to be careful not to move my jaw while the noises were going on.

I can’t begin to tell you how sore and stiff I was when the test was FINALLY finished.  Try laying on a counter top for an hour and a half without moving a muscle.  I cheated and moved my fingers because my hands and lower arms had gone numb!

I got to the car and drank my HOT bottled water down.  Jesse asked if I was up to going to Sam’s, and I said I was tired but I could just get one of their motorized carts to ride.  When we got there, there were no carts available.  I had to walk.  

Jesse saw me weaving, as I walked, and holding my lower back; so, he tried to finish up his shopping quickly.  Still, it was pure agony trying to stand up, the pain was getting worse, I broke out in a sweat, and ALL I wanted was my soft, comffy, beddy bye!   Although I tried not to complain, I think the pain was written all over my face – besides, he’s my husband!  He knows me well.

Here’s the biggest part of my surprise.

We walked into the house through the garage door and a bouquet of flowers on my bar met me (and the dishwasher was mysteriously running)!  I figured Jesse had punched it on when he came through the front door to open the garage door for me.  But how did he get the flowers in?  He was with me all day???????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Then I noticed the house smelled clean.

The flowers were from him and there was a note from my church friend who cleans for me whenever she can.  SUCH A SWEET NOTE!!!!!!!!  She works as a florist and Jesse had ordered the flowers from her in advance.

The house looked so good.  She left no stone unturned, yet apologized in her note because she had wanted to do more.  She is such an excellent cleaner.  Works quickly and does A+ work!

It was such a fantastic surprise – lunch at Red Lobster, beautiful flowers, and a freshly CLEANED HOUSE!!!!!

But, I *was* tired and went back to the bed to lie down and rest my back.  Jesse joined me.
 

I changed into my special nightgown – one of the ones I wore the first month we were married, then on our 10 year anniversary get away, and for the third time Wednesday night – to make the day even more special.  (wink!  wink!  that’s all the info you get!)

It’s a set of gown with pearls and clear sequins and a matching robe, also with pearls and clear sequins.  Very satiny and luxurious feeling.

We talked, we shared, we relaxed, it was just so nice and I enjoyed Jesse without having to share him with the children.  I ate 2 slices of banana bread for dinner and Jesse made himself some fried eggs.   And we went back to lie down again and talk.

I think couples need time to be quiet and away from the children.  We do EVERYTHING with our girls and there is hardly ever time left for just the two out us.  So, I treasured the night with all my heart!

The dogs cuddled with us, and the cat.  A very cozy family night – without our *human* children!!!

 
      (Since Little Bit has been shaved, he gets cold easily.  This isn’t an uncommon way from him to get warm.)

The next morning, the therapist’s office called to cancel the girls appointment.  THAT MEANT I HAD THE WHOLE DAY ALONE IN THE HOUSE! 

My mind began to whirl! 

Oh, the possibilities!!!!!

I made a list of more things that needed to be done around the house and tackled the list with zeal.

I finished entering Jesse’s checks in the books and prepared a deposit slip, worked in each of the girl’s rooms (you know those little corners that accumulate junk?), cleaned the bins of lotion, etc. under their bathroom sink, and 92 million other little things. 

I was definitely stiff yesterday evening – after the previous day of lying still on a “rack” and then the housecleaning work out I gave myself!!!!!!

When the girls came home, they were pleased with their rooms and bathroom cupboards.

NOW, I’m reluctant to cook or do anything in the house that might mess it up!  I’m REALLY loving our new clean house.  It rarely happens!

Jesse is off work for the weekend and is taking Rissy and Annamarie to lunch.  When he comes home, I’m going to do the grocery shopping ALONE!!!

He plans to cook outside a lot this weekend, so I have to get creative with some side dishes.  

One of the things Jesse and I talked about Wednesday night was replacing the glass that is broken in my marble chest.  Also, the glass on top of my dresser is broken.  It’s dangerous and needs to be taken care of soon.  I told Jesse I find Chirper in the marble chest behind the glass all the time. 

He laughed, trying to picture Chirper, but this morning I was able to get a picture of him in the cabinet to show Jesse.

           
                                                    Isn’t my cat statue real looking?!!!!!!!!!
              

Have a nice weekend and

Be Blessed  ~

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!

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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!

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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  ~