Catching Up Again ... Friday, July 22

Jess, Angie, Jon and I went out to breakfast together. This was the first time Angie had taken Jessie out, so we thought we'd go along and "help" out. It was also a good excuse to go out to eat. When Jon and I returned home after the post office, he left to run errands and I got ready to go to a funeral home about 77 miles north. My friend, Joyce's sister, Randa, passed away. Marilyn went with me and we enjoyed talking the 2 hours up and 2 hours back. Six people from church came together and we all met for dinner at the Dairy Queen in Sandusky - apparently the best place to eat there. By the time I got home around 8:30/9:00 p.m. I was too tired to blog.

Congratulations, Jon !!!

You might think I'm crazy, but Jon took in his resignation letter this morning and I couldn't be happier. I've been encouraging him to look for another job for months but he wanted to stick it out. I can't go in to details, but this job would eventually be the death of him. I know that there is another place that God has waiting for him.

He's also going to take some time off to think about his future and where he'd like to work, and in what field. He's also considering 8-hour shifts. He's been doing 12-hour shifts for 9 years (5 as a nurse and 4 as a nurse's aide at a hospital). I'm excited for him. I look forward to how God will be directing his future. Sometimes when things look the darkest, God is getting ready to shine a light in another direction.

Back To Art Class

Jessie's been doing so well, she went back to Art Class. Jennifer said she had to reign her in a bit, as she kept flirting with Brent and Mitch and didn't want to do her art project, although she eventually finished it. They stopped at Subway and brought it home.

Jon and I went out to breakfast then he went to Best Buy and I shopped at Kohl's. We both had to be home by 1:20 p.m. when we had to leave to take Jessie to the surgeon. Other than lifting anything, which Jessie doesn't do anyway, she has no restrictions. She can even go back to swimming! She was pretty excited to hear that!

Around 5:00 I asked Jon if he'd like to go to Partridge Creek to the Clark's store so I could get a pair of shoes I saw in a magazine. I really didn't think he'd want to go, but we went. We stopped at the Croc's store and Jessie got a new pair of shoes. The ones I wanted at Clark's didn't fit.We ate dinner at Max and Erma's then went to the oil store. Giuseppe's, I think it's called. It was nice to do something different. We have NEVER gone there in the evening. I really don't like that outdoor mall, as there are usually too many kids and way too many dogs. Tonight there were way too many of both.

Our Day

Before I got out of bed this morning I heard what sounded like a helicopter somewhere in the distance. It was loud, then quiet. I thought that there might have been an accident on the expressway and a news helicopter was flying around. However, it wasn't that. On my way to my meetin I saw a huge helicopter being lifting air conditioning units on the new Kroger's plaza that is near us. It was really something to see and I decided my team mates could wait a few minutes for me. I joined several other people in a parking lot next to the plaza and took pictures and watched as the pilot expertly raised and lowered these huge units. It was really something to see. I wish I could have stayed longer and gotten closer.

The SM Leaders met from 8:30 - 5:00 pm with a breakfast and lunch break only. We covered a lot of ground and it was great to spend this concentrated time to make our group in the coming year even stronger.

Jon had one of the worst days of his working career. I had thought it was one last month, but today topped it off. Something needs to happen, or else my son will be no more. The stress is going to kill him. Please pray that God will direct his steps for the future.

Rachel and Jessie had a great day. They had Wendy's for lunch, went to several stores and then saw "The Secret Life of Pets" at the show. Rachel said that Jessie seemed to enjoy the movie and appeared to feel well. We go see the surgeon tomorrow afternoon.

Monday

Jessie was up early this morning around 6:30 a.m., got herself dressed and played with her beads and iPad. Around 8:15 she crawled in bed with me and went back to sleep for about an hour. After breakfast she complained of pain in her stomach. Her eyes didn't look so good either, so I gave her some pain medicine. She's been fine since. She had a good day with Rachel.

I did wash, paperwork and prepared for our SM Leader's all-day Retreat tomorrow. This is where we re-cap the past year and plan for the "new year". It's a very productive day, but very tiring. We usually go to a retreat center but this year it was booked. We'll be meeting at church instead.

It's been so hot this summer that we haven't been able to sit outside much and enjoy the sound of our water fountain. The plants around it have grown very well and the entire area is soothing.

Lavender Festival and My Son The Canner

After I headed upstairs last night (Saturday) I realized that I didn't blog. I simply forgot. Rachel came around 11:00 a.m. and Jon and I headed to the Lavender Festival at Blake's Cider Mill. Last year Diane and Randie joined us, but this year they are both under the weather. When we arrived, I almost turned around and came home. Way, way, way too many people. I pulled into the closest parking lot, not expecting to get a spot. God did provide one in that lot and we didn't have to walk a mile from the field across the street. I took my mom's walker with the seat on it because I'm like a drunk on uneven ground. It helped a lot, but it was hard to maneuver through the crowds. Friday was a record-breaking day with 5,000 people in attendance. I think there were 5,000 people there when we were there.

When we finished we drove to Armada and had lunch at Chap's. After Rachel left, Jon got out his canning stuff and began making blueberry preserves. His batch yesterday was full sugar. Too sweet. He made another double batch today with half the sugar. Delicious! Way to go, Jon!

He's also been changing out his herbs. He's putting last years herbs in bags and refilling his jars with the newly dried and processed ones. (They're to the upper left of the picture.) I'm one lucky mom to have a son who enjoys gardening and then canning. Growing up in the city, we had canned goods. No back yard garden. It's a lot of work, but so satisfying and he enjoys it so much.

Today (Sunday), we took turns going to church then met Chris, Eric, Sean and Ashley at the Hamlin Pub for lunch. Jessie was thrilled because I let her have fish and chips. She's not had anything deep fried in a couple months. I finished a really good book by Lauraine Snelling entitled, Someday Home. I also took a long nap while Jon was canning. We had a light dinner, Jess and I sat on the front porch for a few minutes, and now it's almost time to call it a day.

Thank you for praying for Jon. The steroids are helping quite a bit. He's still uncomfortable, but not like he was. Jessie is doing super. She's back to sitting on the floor, leaning over her legs to play with her cards, beads and watch her iPad. However, every once in a while she says, "Pain!", gets up and sits on the couch. I'm not really sure how she can sit on the floor already, but that's what she wants to do. She loves pulling up her shirt, displaying her surgery sites and saying, "Surgery, all done!"

Jessie, Jon and A Rainbow

I received Jessie's pathology report in an e-mail tonight. There were over 100 gallstones in her enlarged gallbladder! Poor baby. I wonder how long she's been suffering with pain and we never knew? She's been doing so well that Rachel took her out to breakfast this morning then Target.

Jon called in sick for work and later this afternoon went to the doctor. He's got a steroid to help with the inflammation and pain. He looked a little better today but not much. Thanks, all, for praying!

I went to Meijer's late this afternoon and when I came out it was pouring rain, yet the sun was shining brightly. After I got the groceries put in the van I thought to turn around to see if there was a rainbow. Sure enough! It was awesome! A full rainbow with the most beautiful colors I've ever seen. The first picture is looking east from the Meijer's parking lot. The second is from a subdivision just north of Meijer's. (I got "lost" trying to find my way out!) These pictures don't do the colors justice, but they are still pretty. When I transferred the first picture, I noticed the second full rainbow over the bottom one!