We’ve come back from our trip to the funeral in Amarillo.

Rich and Angie are here with us, before they take a plane back to Virginia. 

Last night they fixed part of my computer problems, so I have my computer back.

I have my house back.

I have my comfy new bed back.

I have half of my pets back (Jesse will get the dogs today and take Rich’s rental car back) and then it will be a full house again.

The funeral was tiring for me (very large, huge family) but I’m glad I decided to go.

Maybe this week, the china cabinet will get a cleaning and all the dishes that go in it and I’ll have order back in the front of the house.

Since my bil & sil are still here, visitng and relaxing, I’m going to say good bye for now.

Thank you ALL, so much, for your support and prayers.!

Be Blessed  ~

Not necessarily the house the way I would like it to be,  

but, at least,  the “strangers” are gone. 

The strangers are gone and they left new carpeting on our floors!  

I don’t have pictures of the final product and everything neat and tidy – because it’s not neat, nor is it tidy! 

We used two tall plastic waste baskets to save some of the old water from the tank, and then treated the new water with a chlorine killer liquid.  We also found out our tank is much larger than the 50 gallons we thought it to be!  When I filled the plastic waste baskets with tap water, I mixed hot and cold.  I was trying to not boil the fishies    , but to also guess at the temperature that was similar to what they had been living in for the day.

We only lost one little fish.  Not sure if the move caused a rock or shell to crush it or if it died from a heart attack.  We had four of this one type of fish (a Tetra) and the 3 others made it through just fine.  I’m guessing one of the above happened to the lone victim. 

I think Jesse was amazed, too. 

I don’t know if my hand was warm and they were cold; or if they felt some sense of familiarity with my hand being in there.  All in all, it was a really neat experience for me!

I took some pictures yesterday to show the difference of what we had and we (NOW) have.

             
           This picture shows the height of the new carpeting compared to what we had.
                                     (New carpeting in the background)

                           
                                         Frankly, I’m surprised that the doors still swing shut!

We found a champagne colored, super thick, plush carpeting at a close-out price.  The color is almost identical to what our old, dirty, deteriorated carpet color had become!  Remember, when we moved in here in 2004, we KNEW we needed the carpet replaced! 

I don’t know how we made it this long!

Last night, we enjoyed walking from the new carpeting to the old carpeting, and back onto the new carpeting, again. 

We were like little kids playing with the new and old carpet levels!!! 

It was like walking from a mattress onto a blanket laid on a concrete slab. 

Basically, that’s all we had left in some areas, a thin piece of carpeting and no pad left at all. 

We *WERE* (quite literally) walking on the concrete slab foundation!

  
 
         This isn’t an accurate picture of the color (the white look, in the first 2 pictures, is closer),

               but you can see that the new pad (they put under the new carpeting) was thicker

                                        than the old carpeting *AND* pad!!!!!!!!!!!!

    
                          The new yellow pad was higher than the old pad and carpeting put together! 

And, the dust they swept up, after removing the old carpeting and pad!!!! 

OH MY GOODNESS, 

the house needs to be thoroughly dusted from the sandy silt we were living with totally unawares! 

Not to mention the gross little critters buried in the old carpeting! 

YUCK!!!! 

         
                                        Here’s a small portion of one completed room.
                         The carpet threads are actually high enough to show vacuum tracks!!!!!! 

I took my sister in law’s advice and moved the bookcase out of the corner of the den and scooted the TV back.  (I’ll use the bookcase in the kitchen)

I’ll remove the fig tree.  I tried it there, but I don’t like the way it sticks out over the TV, like some great elk antlers or
old-fashion rabbit ears antennae!    

The mantle is still a mess from holding all of the nic-nacs up high and out of harm’s way.  In fact, my entire house is full of clutter  ~  everywhere.

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Jesse got a call, Sunday evening, that his dad wasn’t expected to live more than a few more days, so he left very early this morning (Tuesday) to spend a few days in Texas.  It’s all horrible timing, with all that’s going on in our household, but I don’t believe death ever considers “timing,” nor is the timing ever “good”  when it comes to a loved one dying. 

As far as putting the house back together, I’ll do what I can while Jesse is gone, and I’ll leave the rest for him to help me with, when he comes back home. 

When Jesse made the decision to leave, Stephanie immediately asked if I wanted her to come here to help.  She spent yesterday and today helping with the girls.  She said she could come back Wednesday if I needed her help.  I need SO MUCH help, and I hate to inconvenience her, but I’ll accept her offer, if she offers it again!  

That’s something (or ONE of the things) the chemo changed in me, last year. 

Chaos makes me VERY nervous. 

Monday morning, we had the dryer repairman here, the carpet layers here, the call from Amarillo came in again, and calls back and forth with Jesse’s brother back East and his siblings out West,  the dogs running in and out, the girls running in and out, we had NO cash for Jesse to take with him . . .  

It was a lot going on at one time,
and I just don’t handle stress like I used to.  I think I used to “THRIVE” on stress. 

I can’t put things back in the china cabinet without an ADULT to help, and that can definitely wait.

All I really care about, tonight, is making my bed!!! 

Be Blessed  ~ 

(and please pray for my mother in law, as she says goodbye to the love of her life    )

Talk about a mess, at my house!!!  

I mean . . .

What is this, anyway?

A Garage Sale????? 

Nope! 

It’s our kitchen table, 

AND, it’s everything that used to be

Can you imagine the whole house stripped down to the bare bones of the furniture ONLY????

We never replaced the glass in the marble chest in the foyer, so the dining room table is also storage place to the marble chest items (that were crammed into the china cabinet!) 

    
                                             The ceramic dolls are Rissy’s.

I’ve taken the advice of my friend, Lori K, and have taken a picture of each shelf in the house, so I can put everything back in its place.  (nic nacs, books, pictures)

Even my grandma’s desk has been photographed before being moved.

I’m going to love the new carpeting when it gets here, but the “getting here” is sure a mess! 

                        
                                    I’m looking at the bright side of living amidst chaos , , ,

. . . it’s a perfect excuse for spring (er, aaaa, “FALL”) cleaning!    

We’ll be disconnecting our computer tonight, and I won’t be back here until Tuesday night, or Wednesday.

Our dryer (the NEW one) has not been drying properly, so we will also have a repairman out to look at that in the morning.  

Can you picture the insanity of our lives these next 72 hours?!!!   

Be Blessed  ~

I am feeling better, no huge pain, now.  I still have problems turning my neck.  When I press my neck and the top of my shoulder with my fingertips, I feel like I must be black, blue, and purple inside!  It’s very tender to the touch.

I don’t think I’m going to have anything else done to my neck, unless the deterioration means I’m close to risking paralysis.  My neck was fine until they started sticking needles into my spine!  Seriously, I had no neck pain, BUT I DO *NOW*!!!!!  

The whole thing (this second time) was successful in that I have feeling back in my finger tips and I rarely have that numbness from my elbows down.  But, now I have constant PAIN in my neck, instead.  I’m not sure this was a good trade off!

It is taking me a long time to recover from this last procedure and I’m able to teach school and pick up a few things around the house, etc.  VERY light work.  Then, I feel sleepy in the afternoon when I lie down, and I could probably fall asleep, if the girls didn’t need me for 92 million different things!

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

On Monday, Jesse and I went to Wal-Mart for our grocery shopping.  It was the first of November and a mad house, but we HAD to go.  I used the motorized cart this time.  I just wasn’t up to walking.

We ate at a pizza place before shopping.  When I got home, I put things away and then simply had to stop.  My neck hurt.  My shoulders ached.  That night, I slept like a log.  And, I slept until 9am the next morning!  Every time I have a busy day, I sleep like I’ve been moving furniture all day!  Totally exhausted.

Tuesday was spent cleaning up the junk piles around the house and doing laundry.  Slept like a log that night!

Yesterday, Wednesday, I rested in the afternoon so I could make it to church.  I did make it, and was so glad to be back in the fellowship of others!

Today I go for my monthly Zometa IV (the bone strengthening stuff) and the girls have a spot with their therapist.  They no longer go weekly.  I think every Thursday in November is filled with something I have to do.  Lots of annual check ups, etc.

The gal who cleans called Tuesday and couldn’t come because a child of hers had a stomach bug.  I told her not to come on Wednesday, either.  No sense taking a chance.  Who wants to throw up? LOL!!!!

This weekend, I’ll have to take pictures of my book shelves and the china cabinet’s shelves.  Our new carpeting is scheduled to be installed Monday and Tuesday.  I can’t wait to walk on it, instead of standing with one foot on our 5″ x 7″ sample and imagining what it will feel like!!!   

Jesse said we should put the extra leaf in our kitchen table and move all the china cabinet stuff out there.  The girls and I can use the dining room table for home school.  Jesse said they told him they’d move everything except breakables (the china cabinet stuff) and our computer.  We are responsible for only those two things. 

We have to figure out a safe way to move the fish.  Their base doesn’t have rollers.  Our tank is around 50 gallons and quite heavy.  I don’t know whether to fish them all out and put most of their water in a bucket WITH the fish, or, to leave a small amount of water in the tank WITH the fish and then refill it with their old water.  The balance of the water is such a touchy thing, as is the temperature. 

Remember the baby fishies I had in the brandy sniffer (on top of the tank)?????  We put the babies in the tank about two weeks ago and have only lost three!  Rissy was watching the fish swim, and a Molly came up behind a little fish and gobbled it up in one bite.  Rissy stood there screaming, “No!  Nooooo!  NOOOOOO!   That’s gross!” 

Anyway, the orange Molly babies are close to becoming about half the size of our Neon Tetras.  It’s amazing how big they grew (and how quickly) when introduced to the bigger tank!  We added a grass that hangs from the top and we often see the babies up there between their feedings.  A safe place to hide from the bigger fish.  AND, such a neat thing to watch. 

It’s like the ocean’s waves, I never grow tired of vegging out and watching the scenery!

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

I’ve been praying about a new diet (way of eating, not to loose weight) and a friend at church, last night, came up and talked to me about the very changes I’ve prayed about.  The pastor of the church we attend on Sunday morning also is on the same diet, after having a bypass this time, last year.  Mostly, I’ve been praying that God shows me what changes I need to make AND gives me a desire for the things that are most healthy.  Fortunately, we eat (and enjoy) a lot of fruit and vegetables in our family.  My diet would consist of adding beans and pastas and cutting down (or completely out) meat and animal products.  I’ve rarely followed diets during my 57 (and a half   ) years, so I’ll need God’s help in the discipline area!

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

My sweet cat, Chirper, has been sick.  I took him to the vet last Friday and he received and antibiotic injection, a liquid antibiotic to take at home, and something for nausea & vomiting.  He was pretty sick and losing weight quickly.  Since he suffers from feline leukemia, I knew I had to stop the illness immediately.  Lots of prayers and even my telling God I understood, if it was time for God to take him out of my life, and then the waiting game. 

For the past two days, he has looked more like himself.  Until then, he clung to me like when I first got him.  Something about my body’s warmth, my heart beat, and just being close to a living being made a difference in his recovery.

He’s asking for food again.  He’s “talking” to us.  And, this morning, he got out of bed with me, followed me to the bathroom, and climbed up on me (at the sink) so I would hug and kiss him (a “thing” we do each morning).  Thank you Lord!

I really need to get dressed and take care of few things around here before we have to leave.

Be Blessed  ~

Yesterday’s procedure was horribly painful – just excruciating.

The doctor was 2 hours late (he was in a complicated surgery) and I had been sitting in their uncomfortable chair for many hours, which caused pressure on my sacrum/lower back area.

By yesterday evening, I felt like my lower back and my head were going to explode.  Migraine pills and muscle relaxers finally made me fall asleep (around 8:45pm) and I was able to sleep all night. 

Again, the anesthesia didn’t do a thing and the doctor kept apologizing during the procedure because I was, obviously, suffering silently, or so I thought..

He didn’t hold much hope for this to be a success and said he might have to step it up to another procedure that was “pretty brutal” as far as pain.  He told me I could look it up online, but I am to remember he DOES give some anesthesia locally.  It’s called a Discogram and I haven’t had the courage to look it up.

I’m still pretty shaky, but I sat up for a while before lunch, in the den, and did some mending.  Stephanie came over and watched the girls (and me, I guess), as well as checked the girls’ school work, did some dishes, and promised to make a cake when she comes tomorrow.

I would appreciate more prayers for me to recover from this last doozie in my neck, and also prayers that I might have the Holy Spirit’s wisdom regarding any future spine procedures.

Thanks so much for always being such faithful prayer warriors!  Y’all are the best of friends to me!

Be Blessed  ~

We mailed two boxes of presents on Saturday morning, another faux pas on my part.  I simply didn’t light a fire under Jesse, soon enough, to make decisions about what gifts to buy. 

They were mailed Saturday and her birthday was Monday.

I’m really kicking myself over the whole issue of being late!

Anyhoo, BELATED HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NIKKI DOODLE DOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                        
P.S.  Nikki, if you want me to quit posting this picture, you need to send me new ones!  LOL! 

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

Wow!

I didn’t expect such an enthusiastic response to  my “Which Picture” question! 

Everyone left such nice compliments and I thank you all for of them.  Y’all are so sweet!   

As you can see, Picture #8, was the winner. 

I like it, too, because the lighting was good, the dark background showed my hair and face better, AND it had a touch of the aqua sweater I was wearing.  With my pale face, color around it is always a good thing!

      
                               The beginning of fall – only a few leaves on the ground!

I also had a lot of question or comments that I want to answer in this post.

1)  Holding my veil on with combs.  I’d have to find some really tight teeth in the combs and some that are light weight.  A regular plastic, small comb slides right through my thin hair – unless I make a rat ball at the roots of my hair.  My hair is seriously thin and soft.

2)  Almost everyone made a comment about my skin.  AND, Amber asked about skin care tips!  Oh, Amber, your mouth will drop when I answer you – for sure!  

     I wash my hair and let the diluted shampoo drip down my face and THAT’S what I use to wash my face.  I also have a glycerin bar of soap from Bath and Body Works for the days I don’t wash my hair.  Head & Shoulders shampoo – sometimes a cheap Suave brand – that’s what I use! 

     I have VERY dry skin, and I moisturize, moisturize, moisturize my skin from head to toe.  That means, I use the shea butter cream from, Bath and Body Works, on my face, too.    (are you shocked, yet?)

     I know . . . HORROR of all HORRORS!!!!! 

     A few Saturdays a month, I try to remember to use a clay mask (currently am using “Freeman Avocado and Oatmeal” from Wal-Mart). 

     That’s it!  Lots of PH balanced shampoo and heavy body cream on my face.  I also have a lighter moisturizing cream by Pond’s – the jar with the blue lid.  I use it in between, when my face feels dry.

    I really hold no secrets.  I’ve never taken care of my skin except with soap, water, and a heavy cream or lotion.  Maybe that’s it, my pores are frozen in time!!!!!!!!  

     Seriously, the rest of my secret is genetics, of which I have no idea, whatsoever!  My mother’s sister, Aunt Doris, has always been beautiful and very youthful (still is).  My mother died at a younger age than I am now, she also looked younger than her age.  And THEIR mother (my grandmother) looked younger. 

Does that mean genetics?  I just don’t know! 

           
                                          Fall leaves, as seen through the net around the trampoline!

3)   No, I haven’t found my new hair growth to be any finer or softer than before.  In fact, it’s more healthy, because I have put no chemicals on it.  I’ve always had slightly curly hair, horrible cowlicks, and the texture has always been super fine, baby-like hair.  Even children’s hair barrettes slide out of my hair.

4)   Yes, I went from a cue ball head to a tennis ball, too!!!  In fact, in the middle of chemo treatment, my two front left upper teeth (a bridge) fell out during dinner and I cried and cried, and said to Jesse,  “Now, I look like a jack o’ lantern!”

5)   I can’t remember if Tina was the one who also suggested bobby pins to hold on my covering.  Those also slide right out of my hair.  Imagine a 2yo girl with thin, see through hair.  That’s mine.

6)   Sarah, I checked on the Nioxin product suggestion and it really isn’t THAT expensive *IF* it works!   I’ve tried Rogaine, but I simple didn’t have hair from the beginning (of my life) and it works on stimulating unproductive hair roots. 

I also have to be careful of products that mess with my hormones because I’m taking pills to suppress my hormones, which, in turn, suppress cancer cells from growing again.

       
                                   Our neighbor’s tree.  It will soon be a fire red color.

7)   Lori, taking a picture of my bookshelves before moving them – an EXCELLENT IDEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I’ll do that.  I think I did that with the family gallery of pictures in our long bedroom hallway, when we painted. 

     I will take pictures of the bookshelves AND the china cabinet.  I’m not sure HOW I’ve managed to balance the stuff in those two places.  Both the shelves and china cabinet contain things that are stuck in their and fit together like jigsaw puzzle pieces!!

 
Luci’s picture.  That girl can never keep her clothes on her shoulders.   This is a typical picture of how she looks!

I’m happy to post the children’s finger painting art work of fall trees. 

I even tried my hand (no pun intended!!! LOL!!!) at finger painting a picture!

                     
                                                                  Mom’s tree!  

I’m going back tomorrow for another one of those epidural procedures on my neck.  I hope it works this time.  I’m still wondering about taking any anesthetic at all.  Since the last one didn’t work in the surgery room, maybe I can tough it out and not have the after effect headaches.  Then again, the procedure itself could have been what produced the headaches! 

                 
                                                              Rissy’s tree.
                                 The smear on the right is a shadow.  Good eye! 

We got a call, yesterday morning, that Jesse’s dad was declining rapidly.  The nursing home had told my mother in law to get there quickly.  He is stabilized today, still not in good condition, and they are guessing at what the problem could be.  We’ve decided to go ahead with my Wednesday surgical procedure.  Jesse’s sister is scheduled for surgery on Monday.  We both need this stuff done and are proceeding ahead as planned.

Prayers are always welcome.  I’m especially praying major back surgery isn’t necessary. 

We bought a new (HARD) mattress on Saturday and picked it up Sunday.  We’re having to get used to the hardness (it’s almost like a pad on a hard floor), but we have both noticed our hips don’t ache in the morning.  I’m still having the numbness in whatever (or both) arm I’m sleeping on when I wake up (which is several times a night).  We’ll see if the surgery and the “chiropractic” bed make a difference.

 
                                                                      Annamarie’s tree.     

I have errands to run today – need to pick up a few groceries and need to return library books.  Stephanie is taking the girls tonight and we’ll get them tomorrow evening. She will be with me Thursday and Friday if I need her.  Probably will.  I canceled the cleaning lady today – I needed the time slot she would be here to use for the errands. 

Can’t remember If I mentioned that we also picked out new carpeting.  Got a good price that became even cheaper, and will have the whole house done instead of only the front of the house.  Still don’t know when we’ll plan the installation. 

One step at a time.

     
                                    Rissy and Annamarie, on a lazy Saturday morning!
                                                    They are both getting so big!

I know God will see us through all of these surgical decisions that need to be made and will also get us through the winter months, when there is no work for Jesse.    We continue to thank God and praise Him each day. 

I love watching the hearts of my children turn to God and grasp a better understanding of Him, as they begin their own relationship with Him. 

Enjoy the rest of the week – I’ll be back as soon as I’m able to post again.

Be Blessed  ~

October is such a beautiful month in Oklahoma.  The leaves are changing colors and a few leaves have begun to drop from the trees.  The temperatures consist of warm days (in the low to mid eighties) and at night it turns chilly. 

It’s all just a tease of the cold weather that will come after Thanksgiving and hang around until some time in April.

                            
                                                                               Picture #2

Everything is rocking along at a steady pace right now.  The neighborhood children are on fall break today (through the weekend).  Much to the delight of my three children, I cut the school lessons short this morning and let the girls go outside to play. 

                          
                                                                     Picture #3

I’ll most likely only have them do their spelling exams, their oral reading, and a page or two of language and math for the rest of this week.  Nothing much.  I kinda like the whole idea of a fall break, and I’m enjoying being finished with school lessons before lunch time!

                           
                                                                       Picture #4

Last Friday, true to my word, I put on a CD of Bach – a narration of his life and some of his musical compositions in the background. 

I pulled out the tempura paints, filled little cups with fall colors and gave the girls a large sheet of paper as a practice sheet.  They were told to make fall trees, dotting the leaves with their fingertips in fall colors and using long fingertip strokes for the trunk and limbs.  Their final pictures were painted on a smaller size piece of poster board.  It all turned out nicely and nothing horrible happened with the paints.  I have a vinyl snowman tablecloth that’s older than the hills and there the remnants of our fall project have left their mark!

The girls wore their “mostly worn out” play dresses to paint.  I know it’s supposed to wash out, but I didn’t want to take a chance. 

Luci cracks me up with the little rear end “problem.”  Her and granddaughter, JanaLyn, always have problems with their clothes riding up on one side!  I don’t know how they can stand it!

Yesterday Rissy took some pictures of me.

 
   
                                                                            Rissy

AND MY HAIR!!!  I needed to update my profile picture and I thought people would like to see it and how it’s grown.  This time last year, I was bald!  Maybe a few whiskers of hair, but basically bald.

                              
                                                                    Picture #5

It’s difficult for me to wear a headcovering everyday, because my hair is so fine and thin.  The snap clips that hold the cloth on my head tend to make my hair break off.  Despite all the new growth, I already see short pieces that have broken.  It just makes me sick to have hair that is brand new and already ruined. 

                        
                                                                     Picture #6

I usually cover when I go out in public, and always for church.  But, I get home and take the clips out and scratch my head to get the blood circulating again.  Then, I leave my head open to the air.  I stopped by someone’s house to drop off a meal, a few weeks ago, and they didn’t know who was standing at their door.  No one usually sees my hair!

                               
                                                                        Picture #7

I dry it with a brush (to straighten the tight little ringlets, I’ve always had) and I haven’t cut or trimmed my hair. It’s grown, naturally, into a nice layered shape.  Still have that bald spot at the back & top of my head.  I’ve always had thin hair there, and now (with age, I guess) the crown is so thin, you can see my scalp.

My dining room table is a wrapping network.  Paper, boxes, and ribbon strung out all over the place. 

Our second oldest daughter’s birthday is next Monday and I’ve been busy wrapping gifts for her.  Since I can’t be on my feet long or bend over like I used to, I had to take one block of time to put the gifts in tissue paper and boxes, then again to decorate the gift sacks with tissue and ribbon, then I wrapped a few boxes.  I still have a couple of boxes to wrap and decorate with bows, then I’ll be finished. 

I chose all silver and an icy blue, this year.  I love looking at (and buying) different/new paper and ribbon. 

This year; Jesse, the 3 youngest daughters, and I all shopped together for Nikki’s gifts.  It was fun and I was glad Jesse was involved and made some choices regarding what gifts were purchased.

                               
                                                                      Picture #8

Jesse called me , while I was typing this post, and said we are definitely getting new carpeting.  An off white (maybe champagne?) color, we picked out last weekend.  He asked if I wanted the whole house done, instead of just the front rooms and hallway.  Without a moment of hesitation, I said, “Sure!”

       
                                                                             Picture #9

Now I need to figure out where to put all the heavy stuff the day they install the carpeting! 

We have that new fish tank (I wish it was on wheels, but it’s not) and the china cabinet is full of breakables that will have to be emptied.  The garage may be the best place to put up tables and hold the china cabinet contents during the installation.  Then, ALL of my bookshelves, I just arranged, will have to be emptied!

Our king size bed is heavy, but Annamarie’s king bed is UNBELIEVABLY heavy! 

When Jesse called about the carpet news, I asked if I could buy a plane ticket to California and stay with my mom, while this all happened here at home.  Without a moment of hesitation, he said, “NO!”

                             
                                                                          Picture #10

I started a new book last night.  Another one about the Civil War – specifically the battle fought in Franklin, TN.  I’ve already finished half of the book.  It was *that* good!  I had to put another battery in my reading light because I used up all the power, staying up late to read.  Last night, I had quite a bit of trouble falling asleep (neck pain) and read to distract myself.

I have a few things left on my “To Do” list today.  I need to divide the large quantities of meat we bought on Monday into smaller portions for the freezer, I need to take a bath before church tonight, and I need to finish the sheets I’m washing.

Then . . . I THINK I’LL READ some more in my book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, which picture do you think I should use for my profile pic?  I like picture #8, but also like the black and white version, picture #10. 

Be Blessed  ~

She woke up this morning without her little friend!

We had a nice surprise last night.

Granddaughter, JanaLyn, got to spend the evening playing with the girls. 

She and Stephanie came over for dinner.  As soon as everyone had eaten, JanaLyn was off down the hall to play with the girls and our “little” dog, Little Bit.  Sushi is still a bit too much for her, size-wise.

When it was time for the girls to read (they have to read each night for 30 minutes), JanaLyn jumped right into the routine and found books to read on her reading level.

She likes to do what “the girls” do, and fits right in with the rest of them!

Rissy was there (ever the teacher) to help her with the hard words.

Stephanie found Little Bit snuggled up to JanaLyn and asked me to get a picture of the two of them.

In this next picture, JanaLyn’s face resembles mine so very much (when I was a child). 

This is the picture Stephanie wants me to copy, so she can frame it.  Sweet dog and sweet little girl!!!!!!!!!!!
        

For dinner, I made some sirloin steak pieces, white rice, broccoli, and served bread & butter.  We only had a bit of broccoli left afterward!  We had French vanilla pudding with fresh strawberries on top for dessert.  Yum!  A bunch of hearty eaters.  JanaLyn said, “I love Granny”s cooking!”

Right before JanaLyn and Sephanie had to leave, I played some hymns on the piano.  JanaLyn came out – in awe.  She’s never heard me play (since I haven’t played in 20 years!)   I promised she could come back and I would teach her a few things.  I helped her play (with one finger) “Doe a Deer.”  Stephanie commented it had been a LONG time since I’d played. 

I was so proud of my 3 younger girls.  As I played old (VERY OLD) hymns, they sang right along.  I’m glad they have learned some of the older songs!

Yesterday, while grocery shopping at Wal-Mart, I bought baby gifts for two girls.  One, I go to church with (her shower is Saturday – a brunch) and the other is a friend of Stephanie’s, who THOUGHT she was having a girl and was surprised by a baby boy. 

All of the soft fuzzy clothing and the newer colors in baby clothes made me wish I had thousands of dollars to spend.  Just so sweet.  Not sweet enough to want another one for *me*, but sweet, nonetheless!!!!

I’m just sick.  I got a new sweater that has some wool and cashmere in it.  I washed it in a garment bag.  When I took it out, there were small holes in it – like it had been eaten by moths.  It’s one of the nicest sweaters I’ve ever had and was brand new. 

Looking at it through Pollyanna eyes, I’m fortunate in that I know how to darn socks and will be able to patch it, once I find a matching color from my cross stitch box of threads.  But, I’m so angry with myself.  I’m not even sure what I did.  It said machine wash cold on a gentle cycle, and I did just that  . .

Oh  well……  it’s not to die over!

Jesse just got home.  3:15pm is early for him. 

You can tell there isn’t much “grass cutting” to be done these days. 

He’s doing a lot of hedge trimming, etc.

That’s all the news from my neck of the woods.

I pray each of you has a wonderful weekend of rest and a sweet Lord’s day with church friends.

Be Blessed  ~

Dummy me, I think, “I wonder if that’s a sonic boom?”  

Of course, there was no sound and I quickly realized my stupidity. 

Then chills ran though me, as I remembered the sensation of the building shaking when downtown Oklahoma City was bombed, April 19th.  I paused, reluctantly went to the window that faced downtown, looked to see if there was smoke rising in the sky and did a 360° to see if smoke was ANYwhere.  

There wasn’t. 

By now, the girls are discussing arguing among themselves *WHO* slammed a door and rocked the house. 

That’s when the thought hit me,

“I wonder if we just had an earthquake?” 

I’m no stranger to them, having grown up in the San Francisco Bay Area, and I had a vaguely familiar sensation within me.  We have frequent earthquakes in cities around us, and most people don’t know it.  They are so low 1.something, or 2.something, on the Richter scale.  The news usually reports what only a few people feel.

I turned on the T.V. in time to hear the local newsmen saying,

“We just experienced an unconfirmed earthquake of a 5.4 magnitude.  Details to follow.” 

WOW!  

That’s a big earthquake and, for Oklahoma, it’s an off the records unusual event!!    

I told my girls to remember the day and we would study (sometime soon) what makes an earthquake happen. 

I want them to never forget, what I hope to be, a one time experience for them.