Time With "My" Girls

Brenda and Jess went to Meijer's, McDonald's for lunch then bowling.  Their usual day for Thursday's. 

Rox picked me up for Bible study then afterward we went to lunch.  I shoveled part of the driveway and the back sidewalk from the porch steps to the back door.  I really like to shovel snow.  I know that sounds nuts, but I do.  I could only do it for so long since my back started hurting.  A half hour of sitting down when finished was all I needed and my back was OK again. 

Around 2:30 Kylee and Lynzee came to visit me.  Kylee is going on a Missions Trip to Haiti in April with a team from her church.  She came to pick up our pop cans/bottles that would go for some of her support.  My girls spent 2 hours with me.  I am so blessed that they look forward to spending time with me.  I count them and their mom, Julie, part of my family.

We talked about a lot.  Lynzee (13) shared this picture with me.  Both girls are Black Belts in Karate, and Lynzee has just competed for her second degree Black Belt.  That's her in the picture breaking 2 boards with her feet. Being ignorant of Karate I asked her how she got into that position.  She said she ran, jumped, kicked the boards and landed on her feet. 

I'm in awe of the things these girls can do.  Kylee (17) is now playing tennis instead of going on in Karate.  She's a good player.  She's also in Band in High School and she's taking college classes at Macomb in the afternoons.  Lynzee has received all A's on her report card all year, and is Mrs. Pugh in her school's play of Annie. Both have newspaper routes. I sound like a bragging Grandma, don't I? 

Jon just got home and he said that they over scheduled for tomorrow so he volunteered not to work.  I told him: "I'm so sorry.  Now you'll have a 4-day weekend."  He was all smiles!

Let It Snow ... Let It Snow ... Let it Snow ...

NOOOOOOO !!!!  NO MORE !!!!  I agree that it is really beautiful and we're close to breaking a record, but I'm really not liking all this snowy weather.  I decided when I opened up my blinds this morning and groaned looking out each window (11 downstairs) that I was going to reclose them.  Then I was going to turn up the heat to 80 degrees.  Put on summer clothes and sandals.  Have a picnic lunch on the floor (well, maybe a tray table) and move to the music of the Beach Boys.  Yup.  That's what I was gonna do. Did I do it? 

No - I did paperwork, made a few business calls, washed clothes and followed Jessie around the house.  For some reason she was pretty happy today except for a few outbursts of yelling at me.  Jon cleaned off his jeep and the front walk, but it was useless to do much more since the wind was blowing so hard.  He spent most of his day on the computer or in his bedroom watching movies. 

I made lasagna for dinner.  I can't remember the last time I made it.  Has to be 10-15 years or more.  Jon liked it but Jess didn't.  I expected her not to because of the texture.  She ate a bowl of cereal after her salad and garlic toast.  I have quite a few pieces that I'm freezing for another dinner. 

A Very Busy Day

I had a Stephen Ministry Leaders' Meeting this morning followed by a physical exam at the doctor's office, required by my insurance.  I had lunch by myself at Benny's, which just reopened yesterday after 6 months of cleaning because of a kitchen fire.  I came home and the house was so quiet.  I sat in my chair upstairs, closed my eyes and listened to the quiet house.  That was so nice ... until,  I heard the next door lady come home with her grand kids and was yelling at them.  Next the garbage truck came barreling down the street, slamming on brakes when they reached the next garbage containers.  Not to mention the bang caused by the canisters being dumped.  Oh, well.  A few minutes of quiet was nice.

Brenda and Jess went to the Rec. Center and went swimming.  Lunch at Subway then shopping.  Jon and Lois had a date afternoon.  They went to see "Non-Stop" then had a very nice lunch at Uno Chicago Grill.  When they arrived back home Lois and I had our last prayer time together for awhile as she leaves for Haiti on Saturday morning.  It was hard not to cry as we hugged good bye. 

I told Jessie that when spring gets here and there's no snow on the ground, she'll be picking up dog poop for a week.  She immediately responded:  "OH, DEAR!"  Well, she won't be doing it anytime soon as we are expecting many inches of snow tonight and through tomorrow afternoon.  We'll see how accurate the weather forecasters are this time. 

Snow All Done?

Poor Jess.  She's SO anxious to get in the backyard and swing in her hammock.  We went to lunch with Debbie at Chili's and she began to yell and said:  "Mom!  Look!  Snow All Done!"  What she was pointing to was GRASS - although it was rather brown, it was still grass.  She's going to have a hard time come Wednesday morning if we get our predicted 5-8" of snow.  She is so done with winter - as well as all of us. 

A Quiet Sunday - Sort Of

Jess and I had our breakfast upstairs then came down and I did a couple loads of clothes because I was a little behind in washing.  Jess and I sat down on the couch, got my iPad, sang Christian Kids Songs, prayed and watched parts of Pastor Ed's and Pastor Mick's past sermons.  Our own little church service.

Later in the afternoon Chris came by to help me fold and stuff Lois' prayer letter.  Unfortunately, she wasn't feeling well and coughed quite a bit - which set Jessie off and she screamed a lot.  I sure wish I knew why coughing triggers screaming for her.  That's why I titled this blog "A Quiet  Sunday - Sort Of". 

It's off to bed early for all of us because we are all tired.  Losing an hour's sleep really does make a difference.  Pleasant dreams.

Dear Bill:

Today's your anniversary.  You've been in Heaven now for 2 years.  It's been a very long 2 years for the kids and me, but since there is no time in Heaven, it's just been ... well, ... short I guess.  I know that you are having a great time being in the presence of Jesus, your Dad, Larry, and all the others you have known that have gone ahead. 

We are doing fine.  Just as we shared with each other before you died, we knew that the same God that got you through your cancer would get the kids and I through life without you.  He's been faithful, but life is not the same.  You are GREATLY missed.

Jessie talks about you all the time.  She puts on home videos and we see and hear you quite often.  Sometimes if I close my eyes I imagine you're in the room.  Other times it magnifies my loss and the tears flow and my heart hurts. 

I don't know if you can watch us or even if you have "time", but I believe you'd be pleased at how well we have done.  Your son is an awesome young man.  He's taken on a lot of responsibility.  You'd be so pleased and impressed with the garden that he made last year.  He dedicated it to you. 

What do I miss the most about you?  I miss your presence.  I miss your intelligence and your humor.  Because you were quiet, not many people knew that you had a wonderful sense of humor.  You loved to laugh and have a good time.  I miss our daily hugs and kisses.  I miss hearing you say, "I Love You."  To put it in just a few short words, I just MISS YOU.  You were truly my knight in shining armor (even though you kept saying you were beginning to tarnish), and this damsel still loves you with her whole heart, and always will.   

Forever and Always,
Love,
Nan

PS  If you get a chance, tell my Mom HI for me.  The kids and I miss her a lot, too.  I keep telling Jessie that she is running and playing ball with Jake. 

A Birthday Celebration

Jon and I went to breakfast with Debbie and Jessie because Kelly (Jessie's Case Worker) brought papers I had to sign.  Unfortunately, Kelly was sick and didn't stay to eat with us. 

When Debbie and Jessie left to go to the Rec Center for Gym class, Jon and I went to Bad Brad's to celebrate Diane and Randie's birthday.  Randie's was last month and Diane's is next week.  We treated them to lunch then they came back to the house for several hours to visit.  We figured out that the last time we were together was Christmas.  That's pathetic!!!  They only live a half hour away, but when it was a convenient day to visit either the weather was terrible or someone was sick.  It was SOOOO nice to be with them.