WE SURROUND THEM 9-12 PROJECT

The blog is scheduled an outage tonite. I gotta get moving if I want to blog tonite.
It' was a great day. I had 2 patients.. one had a minor problem at the end, but a little steroid seemed to correct the problem and she finished without any more 'event'.

It's raining. Just a light spring shower.. no snow, no ice..YIPPEE!!!!! It was cold last night.. in the 30s, but this morning it's mid 40s and headed for low 50s .. not bad.

Paul and I were discussing tapping some of our maple trees for syrup here. Maybe next year. The sap is running now and we just never thought about it till he took the family to the Jennings Nature Center and they did a demonstration. I remember Wendell's dad telling me he'd show me how to do that years ago.. never did. I've got some instructions and a list of items we'll need to start. I hope we can make just a gallon of syrup eventually. But not this year.

I've posted to Downsizing Blog.. for anyone interested. You can click on the right side of the page here to access it.

Time to get lunch..

It's been one of those days.. I went into the office in good time. I arrived at 9am for my first patient scheduled at 10am. Except, she was changed to 11am, so I had a 2 hour wait for the first IV. Then she called the office, and changed to 1pm leaving me with my first patient at 12:30. UGH. I went out to get gas in the car while I waited for my patients, and realized I didn't have my wallet. I had to go home to get it, then get the gas. I picked up an apple at home and it was a good thing, as I didn't get lunch today. UGH again.
The good news is that each patient got one stick with a needle, and all infusions went well.
Tonite I am tired and will go to bed early..well.. earlier than usual. I have to get Wendell's snack for him before he goes to bed.
We had a fabulous supper.. grilled steak and grilled chicken.. salad, potatoes, and snap peas.. oh, yummy!!!! John is a master griller.
Tomorrow is pool day.. we plan to go. Hopefully nothing else will interfere and we'll do at least an hour's worth of walking IN water... not ON water.
We did get 56* today.. sunny and just a bit windy. Tonite it will be 33* and tomorrow we expect 53*.. spring has sprung! Oh.. I did see a robin and a crocus.. yippee! Trees are beginning to bud too.

Good morning.. it's Tuesday and office day here. I'll be leaving in the next couple minutes. Just wanted to request prayer for my patients.. for no events..and for myself, that my hands would be capable to hit the mark without difficulty.
It's chilly this morning.. 25* with a promise of 53* today. Isn't spring the most wonderful season of the year?!

hello spring

It was a beautiful day yesterday..around 57*..though the wind was blowing and gusting making it feel cooler.
We had a picnic in the late afternoon.. kids came and rode their bikes and flew kites. Paul brought hickory for the fire, and we grilled hot dogs and burgers.

Saturday the children went to an exposition on preventing brain damage by using bike safety. When it was over, each person attending received a brand new bike helmet.
















Annabelle, Joyce, Daniel, and Paul3 in the bed of Keith's new truck, Big Bird.









Everyone wanted a look at the new truck








Flying kites was high on the agenda for the day. I had flown mine even before the children arrived, and had caught it in trees and brambles 3 times before the string broke. Sigh.
Joyce is helping Annabelle get her's in the air.










Joyce and Annabelle











Daniel got his in the air

Ahhhhh.. YES! It's the weekend.. and a cold one at that.. 20* this morning...brrrrrr Have no fear, 49* are forecast for today and 57* for tomorrow. Typical spring weather. I love it!
Yesterday I spent some time 'policing' outside. I got a couple of trash bags full and it was when I was taking them behind the house that I noticed the box buried down in the trash pile.. there were about 2 dozen brown eggs in the box. How funny those chickens are!
Today I'm again working on the bedrooms. I really need to go through a lot of 'stuff' and dispose of much of it. I really am a serious packrat. Gotta get rid of the junky stuff.
Wish I had about 5-6 rubbermaid tubs to pack the good stuff. It would be temporary, but at least contained. Oh.. well... I suppose cardboard boxes work just as well for the moment.
I still have laundry to put away..

Next week I'll be updating the Downsizing site for Wendell especially. He's decided to go ahead with bariatric surgery. I've called the surgeon and his PCP and the first thing he needs is a visit with the PCP for a weigh in and a supervised diet/weight loss plan. That's Monday. He'll also stop by the surgeon's office and get the paperwork and lab requisitions and information he will need.. The actual surgery won't take place for 6 months. That's the insurance company's rule. So we have to go back to the ADA diet for now. Though he hasn't lost much weight on the present diet plan, his blood sugars are in a normal range now, which is half the battle.
Hopefully, Monday and Wednesday will be days at the pool too. Exercise is important.

I'm really getting annoyed with power outages.. We have just had our 3rd within a year.. this one was short, but left us in the dark, cold, and feeling crappy. It was nearly 3 hours this time.. we really had no idea it was coming. We just happened to have some hot water heated and each of us had a cup of hot tea.. and then I went for the 'candle and battery' box. I pulled out flashlights, replaced batteries that were dying, and lit 4 candles.. 2 of which I'd purchased right after the last outage.

We were both feeling chilled, and so decided to go to McDonalds for a hot chocolate.. I got in the car and waited for Wendell to blow out candles and join me. Just then, the porch lights came on and I was annoyed that he turned lights ON when he was to turn them OFF... and then realized that the power was on and I could make us hot chocolate at home! HOORAY!

We had lunch at a local restaurant today.. nothing big.. and then took books back to the library , picked up the last things on the grocery list, and on to the YMCA. As I pulled into the Handicapped spot, my gut felt like it twisted, and nausea overwhelmed me.. I had to sit still a few minutes and realized Wendell was having a similar problem.. and he said.. 'let's just go home'.. which we did..

Tomorrow is another day...

Well, SOME of our plans worked out yesterday.. the laundry is done and half of the shopping got done too.. didn't make it to the pool, but today is another day, and we shall try to go today if possible.
Last evening I watched Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid.. I thought it would be really funny, but it was pretty mediocre. While I watched, I started a new afghan.. I'm using the Granny Ripple pattern- so far, it's looking good. This is my first try at a ripple afghan.. I chose shades of green, one of them is a variegate.
Time for a shower..

When did you last praise God for the marvelous way he made you?

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb.
Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—and how well I know it.
You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.
Psalm 139:13-16 NLT

Praise for God's Workmanship

Any biology text can illustrate how wonderfully complex the human body is.
From brain cells to blood cells—each intricate component of our bodies is carefully designed.
You don't have to take a biology course to marvel at how our eyes can take in the bright blue color of the sky, how our ears can detect a pin drop, how our nose can enjoy the aroma of ground coffee or the scent of a beautiful flower.
How exciting it is to enjoy the body God has made for us!
David expressed this same wonder as he prayed this prayer.
Set aside a few minutes today to praise God for his sovereign care.

Prayer for today:
Dear Lord, thank you for making me with such marvelous workmanship …

from The One Year Book of Prayers edited by Bruce Barton, Tyndale House Publishers (2000), entry for January 13

It's Wednesday and I have a busy day planned.. any time I have more than 2 major activities during the day is a busy one for me. This morning we need groceries, and I would guess that the hubby and I will be having a quick breakfast out.. I think we are out of milk, and that means no cereal.

I am gathering up our dirty clothes and sorting them for the laundromat this morning also. It's been too long, and we are down to the last couple washcloths and I think there are 2 clean towels.. now, that's taking 'er down to the line, eh?
I'll be glad to have all this done.

I'm also planning to do some cleaning here.. I'm off till next Tuesday.. nice break.
In the mean time, we hope to get to the pool this afternoon. I don't think we got there at all last week.. other things seem to force our pool time out, much to my disappointment.
So our day is full to capacity. So much to do.

Today is office day Tuesday.. there are 6 patients due for infusions. Pray for us if you would.. for no 'events' and for my skills to be A+++.. thanks
Word came last evening of the death of cousin Irene's daughter. Please remember to pray for her family and pray for Irene too.
We also had another death in our family this past weekend.. Ruth Moniot, Wendell's aunt. She was 94.
Gotta get moving..

Amanda has finally finished her afghan.. it's beautiful, eh?

TODAY ELI IS 2 YR OLD!
HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY

WISH I WAS THERE TO SHARE IT WITH YOU

No, it's not tax day yet... but I'm happy to report that I did our taxes myself this year.. and only had to call my former employer and the IRS once each to get er done. If I calculated the hours I've spent sweating over these papers, a rough estimate would be 16 hours in two 8 hour sessions. That's steady working, no breaks and no food either.. just sheer concentration. Things came together after I talked to the IRS and they answered a bunch of my confusing questions.. Now that I know what I need to know, I just might be able to do this next year in 10 hours!
So that's how my day went.. paperwork all the way.. I met the mailman on the way to the mailbox, and our return has been sent. Of course, we have ended up owing the state and local taxes, but I have to say, not bad.
Those 'bills' will be payed when I get paid April 1st.

How have you asked God for his protection?

O God, listen to my cry! Hear my prayer!
From the ends of the earth, I will cry to you for help, for my heart is overwhelmed.
Lead me to the towering rock of safety, for you are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me.
Let me live forever in your sanctuary, safe beneath the shelter of your wings!
Psalm 61:1-4 NLT

A request for protection
As the commander of Israel's armies, David was an expert at analyzing an enemy's defenses and planning fortifications.
Under David's leadership, the strong fortress of Zion (later called Jerusalem) was captured from the Jebusites.
And after he captured it, David oversaw the building of additional fortifications around Zion (2 Samuel 5:6-10).
But David didn't place his trust in the fortress he had built.
He knew God was his true "towering rock of safety."
There was no safer refuge than the Lord's sanctuary—the presence of the Almighty.
Although we might not realize it, we are just as vulnerable as King David was.
We need to be led to God's rock of safety.
Run to the Almighty in prayer and trust in him to keep you safe.

Prayer for today:
O God, lead me to the towering rock of safety, for you are my safe refuge…

from The One Year Book of Bible Prayers edited by Bruce Barton, Tyndale House Publishers (2000), entry for February 5

This morning it is 36* and partly cloudy.. with a promise of 56* later today.. Yes, it's here.. spring is here.
Not a whole lot going on .
We are looking forward to attending worship today.. it is the Sabbath.

3 months- 3 afghans

This pink one is for J.J.. It's totally pink. That which looks beige is really a very light pink and VERY soft !

This one I finished last week.. is for baby boy Valentine..

I finished this one last month.. for Joyce.. I love the colors..

Wendy just called...

Wendy just called. She just had her sonar done and she called to let us know that the baby is growing normally and all is well.. she also said I could finish the baby's afghan with a BLUE trim..

This morning she talked to the kids and asked what they'd like if they had a choice.. Esther and Isaac want a baby brother.. Gayle prays nightly for a baby sister. Wendy explained to the children that God alone knows what is best for our family.. to which Esther replied "Does this mean we're getting a kitten?"

The Bottle of Wine

THE BOTTLE OF WINE

For all of us who are married, were married, wish You were married, or wish you weren't married, this Is something to smile about the next time you see a Bottle of wine:

Sally was driving home from one of her business Trips in Northern Arizona when she saw an elderly Navajo woman walking on the side of the road.

As the trip was a long and quiet one, she stopped The car and asked the Navajo woman if she would like a ride.

With a silent nod of thanks, the woman got into The car.

Resuming the journey, Sally tried in vain to make a bit of small talk with the Navajo woman.

The old Woman just sat silently, looking intently at Everything she saw, studying every little detail, Until she noticed a brown bag on the seat next to Sally.

'What in bag?' asked the old woman.

Sally looked down at the brown bag and said, 'It's a bottle of wine.

I got it for my husband.'

The Navajo woman was silent for another moment or Two.

Then speaking with the quiet wisdom of an elder, She said:

'Good trade.....'