Happy 24th Birthday, Jon

I took Jon out to breakfast at his favorite restaurant and our favorite waitress, Heather, put a candle in his pancake butter and sang Happy Birthday to him. 

For dinner he requested breakfast so we had eggs, cheesy hash browns, sausage and a blueberry muffin.  Dessert was a cherry pie with almond frosting.  Yum. 

He spent quite a bit of time working on his ship this afternoon and some computer work.  In all, I think he had a pretty nice day.  He was a bit down, as was I, since this is his FIRST birthday without Dad.  However, it was still a good day.  Thank you, Jesus.

Now, on the other hand, Jess had a very bad day.  Prayers are needed for her because her psychologist "diagnosed" her with clinical depression.  She put up a "fight" going to the grocery store and was so bad for Debbie that I wouldn't blame her if she quit.  Which, by the way, isn't an option!!!! 

Pastor Garry came to see me today and the look of shock on her face was awful.  She said "Dad".  Then she looked at me and I knew that she was thinking that since he came to visit me that I was sick and dying just like daddy was when Pastor Garry came many times to talk.  I had to reassure her that I wasn't sick or dying.  That was sad.  Who knows what goes through her mind. 

Also, please say a prayer for me.  I mentioned yesterday that I paid for yesterday walking around most of the day.  Well, today has been worse.  Every part of my body is in pain.  Not sure what is going on, as I am not sick otherwise.  It is discouraging to think that I can't walk without "paying" for it later with pain.  Thanks for uplifting us again. 

Grief Counseling Plus

I had my second session of Grief Counseling at 11:00.  Today's was very insightful and the counselor reaffirmed that I am not going crazy and that all the emotions I have been dealing with are normal.  I reaffirmed the fact that I do not like grieving.  I told her that I wish there was a manual that I could read and follow, check off each phase as I go through it and then be done.

Please know that I am not minimizing in any way my love and grief over losing Bill.  He was my everything.  He's the man I prayed for and was given as a gift from God.  I miss him terribly, but I know that he is enjoying himself and he wouldn't want to come back - even if he could.  I wouldn't want him to.  I just don't like crying often and going through a new loss each day as I experience what his absence means ... like ... well, I think I'll share that another night.

After my session I went shopping around the Oakland Mall.  I don't normally shop over there, but it was fun going to different places.  However, around 3:00 my knees were screaming at me, my back hurt and my feet weren't much better.  I tend to forget at times that I'm not able to walk as much as I used to, and I am paying for it tonight.  Oh, well, at least I enjoyed myself.

Thank You For Praying

Jessie and I met 11 other women for lunch today at a local restaurant and she did very well.  She tried hanging on me a couple times, but as a whole, did very well.  Thanks for praying for her.  There was also a little boy and a baby in the restaurant and she still did OK.  It was a nice time out.

I did paperwork, a couple loads of wash, took a nap and vacuumed.  Exciting, eh?  I'm feeling a bit lost.  There isn't anything I really have to do and if I do it tomorrow, who cares?  No one but me.

A Beautiful Day

You really couldn't ask for a nicer weather day.  Just the right temperature.  Sun shining.  Perfect.

Debbie is still in Georgia visiting her parents and won't return here until Wednesday.  After washing some clothes and writing out some bills, Jon joined Jess and me for Girl's Day Out.  We had lunch at Bellacino's then dropped Jon's jeep off at Henderson Glass to have the windshield replaced because of a stone hit and windshield crack.

While we waited for it to be completed, we went to Big Lots, K-Mart's and Kee's Pets.  Jess didn't do too bad in the two big stores as we put her in the wheelchair.  Tomorrow I've been invited out to lunch with Bible Study ladies and I plan on taking Jess with me.  Please be in prayer for this as she doesn't do well in restaurants.  I'm hoping that since it's all ladies she knows, it'll go well.  Prayer would certainly help, though.

Happy Mother's Day

I have been dreading today for a couple weeks now.  This was my second Mother's Day without my Mom and my first without my husband.  However, it's been a very nice day. 

Jon didn't have to work so he joined Jess and I for breakfast.  He made eggs and toaster waffles and I had bought a small lemon cake and we had that for dessert.  After we ate Jon and Jessie gave me very nice presents ... from Jess I got a book and some lotion.  Jon gave me a book and a gift card from Hobby Lobby. 

For lunch we went to Chris' house for a nice chicken bbq.  Eric and Sean and Sean's girlfriend, Ashley, were there and we had a nice time.  Jon and the boys played xbox for awhile, Jess played with her letter tiles and watched a DVD and Chis and I had a chance to talk.  In all, a very nice day.  Thank you, Jesus, for turning a day that could have been hard into an enjoyable and fun day.

Crabby Day

Tuesday, May 5

Oh. My. Goodness. Talk about having a crabby day. That was Jessie despite the presence of Jane. Personally, I think she's giving us all a "run for our money" because we've changed her days again. For a month she was just with Jon and me. Now the aides are back and she has to adjust again.

Today was our lunch outing and she was even crabby then. We ate with the goats, delivered some eggs, then went to the Northern Market on Van Dyke and 35 Mile Road. Jess, of course, stayed in the van while Jane and I shopped. I got a couple ornamental cabbage plants and Jane got a hanging plant. I also bought some peach cider and Jessie hollered all the way home that she wanted some NOW.

Change is not easy for my darling daughter. Hopefully, by this time next week she won't be so crabby. But. In the meantime, it's going to be a very long week!

Another Goodbye

Today Jess, Debbie and I took Lois to the airport in Flint. Doesn't Jess look cute pulling the suitcase?  She did a really good job of it, too.  We couldn't get her in the elevator, though, to go to the second level to watch Lois go to the plane area.  She stayed downstairs with Debbie and I walked up with Lois.  It was hard saying goodbye again for another year.

It's been a really quick 5 weeks that she's been in Michigan, and nothing like a real vacation for her this time.  Please pray for Lois as she continues her flight home to LaPointe, Haiti.  She won't be landing in Miami until about an hour from now and it will be her 4th airport.  Traveling by air is exhausting.  It seems like you rush to wait. 

On the way home we ate lunch in Imlay City and we drove past the Country Meat store in Almont. We got a picture of Debbie, Jess and the moose on top of the car.  Jess and I are just walking away from going up to the gienormous cow.  In all, it was a nice outing for us.