Christmas Season

Well, Sunday night was my Lifestyle Interiors party at Stonewood Grill. The food was delicious as usual. The service (or I should say, one of our waitresses) was uncommonly terrible. We did have a good time though.

I got $100 worth of free gas and a little kit that you bake cakes in coffee cups.

Earlier that day we went to Dave's friend, Del's open house.

In the morning we had gone to church and before that we went to the gym. I am not sure why I just recounted my day in reverse order but that is just the way I think sometime.

Saturday was the 4th annual Christmas cookie bake at Cheryl's. There were a few changes in the type of cookies and candy but as usual we ended up with 12 different kinds and I think 16 different trays to distribute among our friends.

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Dec 12, 2005
Who would have ever thought that on this day in my life I would have two beautiful, happy, intellegent granddaughters celebrating their own birthday on each side of the world. God is so good. I pray that he will bless each of them today and throughout their life.

FUN

It isn't cold but it does seem like Christmas. Natalie spent the night Saturday night and she was so good. We took her out to eat with us after Dave finished with his golf game. All of the people in the restraunt just kept going on about how cute she is and she would wave and flirt with everyone that would watch her. She slept from 8pm to 8am and I checked on her several times just to be sure she was still breathing. Dave and I had her out on a cart ride when Tara came to get her. Tara was a little disappointed that Natalie was too busy waving to strangers to notice her.

Dave went to see Helen again today. She has been eating yogurt, mashed potatoes and a few other things and they are staying down. He said she even seemed a little more like herself today.

Mike, Carrie and the boys will be coming down for Christmas. I think I will fix Dave a Turkey dinner with all the fixings. I will have a 4 day weekend but he will only have Sat. and Sunday.

Anna looked like she had a fun party. She looks so much like a girl Todd. I never could have imagined her being such an entertaining dancer but the video proves she is. Sarah looks like a little Christa with those precious dimples. Who could refuse sharing their KFC with her.

Bryce is becoming quite an artist. She and Maison will be celebrating their 5th and 11th birthdays wearing stinky shoe and bowling.

Keep sending pictures and videos we love them down here.

CHRISTMAS IS ABOUT LOVE

Well, just as expected a lot of things are going on that only happen at Christmas. Last Sunday we decided to visit First Assembly Church. It was the first time I had been there, except for a funeral. The service was very good. Homework assignments were evern given. Everyone was to say "Merry Christmas" to over 500 people this week. As much as I talk, I don't even think I will complete the assignment.

They had a keyboard festival that night and Dave, Cheryl and I went to that.

Monday night Natalie came over. She spilled chocolate milk on her shirt so I had to let her open a present so she would have a clean outfit to wear when we went walking to see all the Christmas lights.

Tuesday was Bingo night and they were all in a good mood. The room was packed.

Wednesday night, Cheryl invited The Stedcke's, Michelle, Dave and I to her Clubhouse for a Christmas Buffet. They even had a big fire in the fireplace and roasted chestnuts. There was hot apple cider, eggnog, pasta bar, and a large buffet line. It was very good.

Tonight is back to the gym. We have been walking every morning before we go to work. It is a good way to have our prayer time before we start our day. Vicki got me a devotional book that we read after we get back.

Oh yes, Dave started at a new nursing home this week. It is the same company he was working for just closer to home. His buddy Del and several of the other employees left the company so the guys that stayed got a raise and Dave got to go to a new location of his choice. So far so good.

Mom had her 81st birthday Mon.

Helen is a little better and Tony came down to be with Carolyn until she goes home in March.

Thanks for your prayers, I am praying for you guys too.

LET THE RAT RACE BEGIN!

The 4 day Thanksgiving vacation is coming to an end. Thanksgiving dinner was OK, not wonderful, the turkey could have been better. It was nice spending time with Tom. He was only down for a few days but was in a good humor and nice to be with.

Thusday was also Carolyn's birthday so we took a tiny little cake with palm trees on it to her. I also gave her a clock that had room for photo's on the face. I inserted copies of photos of her boys, their kids, Oz, Helen, Tony and one of her looking for treasures in the dumpster. (Tony took that one without her knowing about it)

Dave had to work a few hours Friday. I went to the nursing home to play table shuffleboard with my friend Larry. He is such a sweatheart. He's 95. He told me that it was ashame I wasn't single because he has a pension that pays $350 a month and he would get married again if he could find a nice woman like me. I told him I would be on the lookout for a nice single woman for him.

Dave golfed with friends on Sat. I went to get my hair done and to some antique stores to try to sell one of my old sewing machines.

Today we went to Church and then we put our tree up. That means that Christmas is just around the corner and we will be so busy it will fly by and we will be taking all of these things back to the storage unit before we know it.

This was a nice restful weekend and I hope all that read this have a great week

THANKSGIVING DAY

It's Thanksgiving Day morning, most of the food is ready to pop in the oven at the appropriate time, it's still too early to watch the parade on TV and all is well in my life.

This is the first year I have cooked Thanksgiving meal in a while but after all the experience of the past, it was very quick and easy to prepare most of it last night. The turkey is only a turkey brest in its own gravey that I purchased frozen, the broccoli casserole (missing the onions - one mistake is expected) is ready to bake, the sweetpotatoes will bake for a short time before the marshmellows go on, the rolls only take 5 min. and the cranberries come straight out of the can. The stuffing is Stove Top - I like easy.

This year was no different than any other year, I had to send David out last night to get the evaporated milk for the pumpkin pie but since he is the only one that likes it he didn't mind.

After reading the yeti's blog, I have all the same things that I am thankful for but those don't seem as important to me as they do to him because he hasn't had them every day like I have.
It really isn't a good thing to take our blessings for granted but I know I do.

Thanksgiving has always been a time when I realize how much God has blessed me. I have had parents that loved me and were always very supportive of me, sisters that I not only love but like and know they feel the same toward me, children that have become adults that I am very proud of. They are happy, successful, have a close relationship with God, and great families of their own. As for David, as Eddie Caple always said, David deserves a metal for putting up with me.

I send my love to all of my family and friends and wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!

NEW MISSION SYSTEM INTERNATIONAL NEWS LINK

I got my newlink from NMSI yesterday and the last artical was something that I thought was good for all Christians to live by
Things every missionary should learn (collected from NNSI missionaries)

10. It won't be like the States, nor should it be.
9. God could do it without us, but He chooses to do it with us, through us and in spite of us.
8. Listen more than you talk.
7. Never stop being a learner.
6. When it comes to food, ignorance is bliss.
5. People are more important than projects or things.
4. Guard your time with God. Ministry is not the same thing as abiding in Him.
3. Always carry toilet paper.
2. E-mail is the biggest block to enculturation in this century.
1. When all you can do is laugh or cry, choose laughing.

I did adjust a few of these for me personally
10. It won't be the same as it was when I was younger.
6. If you have to eat chicken, pork or beef forget everything you know about stockyards, slaughter houses, chicken farms and what is in the food they feed them
1. E-mail is great for us at home to stay involved.

NOT EXCITING, JUST DAILY UPDATES

Last night Bingo was fun. All my favorite little people at the Nursing Home had fun. I am trying to talk them into decorating their wheelchairs and having a little parade down the hall. Many of them readily aggreed but probably won't remember it today.

Dave and I went for sushi tonight (it was delicious) I have learned that if you sit at the bar the guy will give you free stuff. The people at Tokyo Bay know me now. My waitress' name is
A-lee-lee, at least that's what it sounds like. I saw her at TJ Maxx last weekend and she knew me but I could tell she was trying to figure out how.

Helen is still improving slowly but it will take a long time for her to get back to how she was last summer.

THE FASTER BOATS MUST TRAVEL THIS WAY...

I received a package from China today that left there on October 28. I couldn't read a lot of it but the box checked was not "Air" or "Surface" but "SAL". So we will have to see if my package takes more than 17 days to reach China.

This Saturday we went to a beautiful wedding and reception in Tampa. I think it was the first reception I have ever been to that the cheers for the grooms parents were the loudest ones when everyone was introduced.

The Ryan's have a very large family and it was great to see them all together. Even thought I had never met many of the people at the wedding there were quit a few I felt like I knew because of stories we had heard from Pete and Laura over the years. They were such nice people and it was a pleasure getting to be a part of such a happy celebration.

Tonight was "Natalie" night. She has just returned from a trip to Colorada to see Dana. She is such a pleasant little thing and becoming quite a tease.

Helen is slowly improving. I don't see her eating turkey or anything else for Thanksgiving but Tom will be coming for a visit so I am sure she will enjoy that.

'A SLOW BOAT TO CHINA'

I have heard that saying for as long as I can remember. Until yesterday it was always just an expression used to exaggerate something not happening as quickly as I thought it should.

Let me start from the beginning. I like to send packages from time to time. I had asked Christa for their actual mailing address so that I could send a box. I haven't been to China or any other country that write with those artistic little symbols so I wasn't sure how I was going to address it. They, Todd and Christa, informed me that their address consisted of words, not words I recognized, but at least words that consisted of letters I knew. So, I got my package togather. The contents are another story. I taped the box up, put the address label on it that I printed on my computer and after taking bets from my friends about what it would cost to mail, went to the post office.

When I put it on the scales the girl told me it was almost 15 pounds and would cost $75 if I wanted it to arrive in 2 weeks or so. I thought for a moment and realized that the contents weren't worth that much and asked her what my options were. She said that for only $35 I could send it by boat. She said it would take a month. I figured if she said l month it would probably take 2 months. I thought about the contents again and I knew chocolate could last 2 months if it wasn't in my house, so I said fine and gave her my check. I hope the boat is a fast one.

Now about the contents. It does have Hershey kisses, pens, index cards, spices, coffee, zip lock bags, rubber bands, duck tape, coloring books and stickers. The funniest items were the pie pans. I stopped at our new Super Target to get them and guess what I noticed when I was in line to pay....yes, that familiar little sticker 'MADE IN CHINA' I am just hoping those pans find their way home.

RUTS CAN BE GOOD

Today was a very ordinary Monday. I went to work. I came home and played with Natalie for a few hours. (She is getting so cute and full of personality.) Now I am getting ready to go to bed in hopes of waking up tomorrrow to a very ordinary Tuesday. This will consist of work, going to the nursing home to help them play bingo and coming home in time to watch "House", my one and only regularly viewed TV show.

I know ruts can get boring but I think I will have to be in one for awhile before that happens.

GOOD DAY!

After resting up from another busy week, I'm up before dawn. This is the first time I have worked a full week in quite some time and it felt so good to get back to normal. Poor Dave still hasn't gotten back into a normal routine. Last Saturday he had to work and today he is on his way up to Bradenton to a seminar. He has a bad cold and I am sure he would rather be home sleeping in his recliner.

Next Saturday we will be back on 75 heading up to Tampa to Danny Ryan's wedding.

Helen came home from the hospital on Thursday and is still improving at a slow pace. Carolyn is staying with her and taking care of her. Dave will start giving her her home health therapy next week.

Maison is playing football today in North Carolina in a tournament playoff game.

Well it looks like I will be going to the gym by myself again today, I haven't lost an ounce but it is easier climbing the stairs so it's worth it.

TGIF

HAPPY ANNIVSARY TO US!

Thirty three years ago tonight Dave and I got married. That was one of our better choices. Tonight we went to Steak and Ale and then to the Cinama to see Elizabethtown (our choice of the movie was not one of our good choices).

Thank goodness it was the good choice that lasted all these years. We have had such good times and it is wonderful to spend your life with your best friend.

TIME KEEPS RUSHING BY...

Can you belive that it is already NOVEMBER 2005? Just yesterday, we were looking forward to 1/1/00.

Helen had to go to the hospital last night. She spit up some blood. They admitted her to find out why. Other than that she seems better. She is walking more. Eating a little (very little but more each day). They checked the blood to be sure that the blood thinner isn't thinning too much and that was OK. I will keep you posted of any news.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Well Halloween has rolled around again. The weather here is cool so it seems like it really is fall even without the pretty colorful leaves.

I am happy to report that the pictures of grandkids in costumes and having parties has already begun. Little Natalie is going to be a ladybug but I might not see her in her costume until November. She cancelled our regular Monday night visit due to more fun Halloween plans.

I hope you all have a great week, get your leak repaired, do well on your tests, and have fun at all your sporting events and extra curricular activivies.

FLORIDA FOR THE WEEKEND - COOL TEMPS

HOME SWEET HOME

Well, we are finally back home and even got to sleep in our own bed last night. (That as you know is very important to me.)

We left last Wed. and spent 2 nights in Gainsville but couldn't get rooms after that because it was "Parents Weekend" (can you believe those parents came to visit when a hurricane was coming our way?)

We then went to Macon, Georgia and spent 4 nights at the Best Western.

Tuesday we drove back down and left Helen and Carolyn in Gainsville to spend the night. We came on to Ft. Myers. Our power came back on before we got here and Helen's came back on before they got back today.

Dave and I both went back to work today. There are still people without power in Ft Myers, we still have some traffic lights out and there are piles of tree limbs lining many of the streets but it is not nearly as bad as it was when Charlie came last year.

The high temp today was in the 70's and it is down in the 60's now. It feels like fall.

Getting back home in time for hurricane warnings

I have been informed that this blog thing only works if you update it on a regular basis.

Since my last posting, I have been in Kentucky with Mom and Carol and in Indiana with Cheryl, Janet and Laura. Both were very nice visits.

It seems that most of my entertainment is about eating and shopping. I got in plenty of both. In Indiana we had a "4 Hour rule" which meant that we ate every 4 hours with snacking in between.

I got home after midnight Sunday and Monday was a day off work to go to the dentist, having workmen in replacing Dave's shower stall, unpacking and doing my laundry. Tuesday was back to work and Bingo at the nursing home and ofcourse checking the weather to see if we are stil in the center of the cone of the hurricane they are predicting to arrive Sat.

GOOD NEWS: I went to see Helen Monday night. She is doing much better. She is still at Shell Point. She was talking in sentences. Her hair is beginning to come back in. She is walking to her physical therapy and the food suppliments she is taking now is not making her sick. Dave and I had Natalie Mon. night so we took her with us. She was quit a hit at the nursing home.

Helen is improving

Helen is at Shell Point and seems to be improving. We think that maybe her breathing treatments are making her have anxiety so we are going to see if Dr Nesselroade can change the medication.

The doctor did not see any signs of cancer when he put the scope down her when they inserted the feeding tube. She will start drinking by mouth and then eating and hopefully she will be able to get rid of the feeding tube in 10 weeks.

Keep praying for her.

Staying connected across the miles

I have enjoyed Todd's blog so much since he moved to China that I thought this would be a good way for me to communicate with you.

We are all so busy and so far apart. This way you can check in to see what is happening down here if you want to.

I am looking forward to my trip to Ky and Ind. I will be leaving this Sat. morning and spending time with Mom and Carol until next Fri. morning when I pick up Janet and Laura an d head up to Cheryl's house in Ind. I will drive back to Lou on Sunday and fly home.