On The Road Again

Even though it snowed last night then had some freezing rain, I took off for the "north" at 10:30 a.m. and met my cousin, Karen, in Imlay City. She left her car and we traveled to Brown City and shopped at the Pineberry Shoppe. I really liked this store when I was there about a month ago. The owner, Linda, recommended a couple more stores in Marlette so after we were finished with her store we headed even farther north about 12 miles to Home Again Antiques, Maggie's and a carry out Chinese lunch in the van. 

Heading south we stopped at the Lavender Farm then Backyard Creations in Imlay City before I dropped Karen off to get her car. On my way home I stopped at Frontier Town's Artisan Store and Bake My Day.  I ordered 3 Anio's wraps from Anio's, picked up the mail and was finally in the driveway at 5:10 p.m. 

A VERY NICE DAY.

Rachel was with Jessie today since Jon was working. They played a new game Jessie got for Christmas called Who Pooped (a very appropriate game for Jess.) Theyalso baked chocolate chip cookies (as if we needed more cookies in the house!) made a stained glass sticker craft and watched a DVD. Jessie was happy that lunch was left over pizza from last night's dinner. 

I am ready to sit on the couch and put my feet up!

Monday and Tuesday

Yesterday (Monday) was Jon's 4th day off in a row. He needed these days off and I needed him to take me to the hospital to get a cervical MRI. The back doctor thinks that the pain I have in my upper back is from my neck and recommended a shot in my neck. However, they can't do a shot unless I have an MRI. Since I can't lay still because of pain, I have to have anesthesia. I had to be there at 8:00, my MRI was scheduled for 9:00 and I think it began around 9:30. I felt pretty good when I woke up and not in much pain. Jon fixed me scrambled eggs when we got home and then it hit. I was so tired. Besides only getting about 3 hours of sleep the night before, the anesthesia effect hit. I went upstairs and slept for almost 3 hours. However, I wasn't much better when I got up and I wasn't capable of fixing dinner. Louie's pizza and salad was our dinner. Jessie kept saying, "Mmmmm"  "Mmmmmm". She doesn't care if I cook or not. Pizza is fine for her.

I felt a little more awake today (Tuesday) and did a couple loads of wash before I went and visited Lois and Ruth. No movie today. We just talked. 

Jane took Jessie swimming. They both enjoy this time at the pool. They had a Wendy's drive-thru lunch and ate with the goats! Apples 2 Apples was the game of the day plus Clack. 

I wanted to remember this picture and I haven't put a picture in my blog in a couple days. So ... Jessie made a gingerbread house earlier this month so I put it on our small table that usually is in front of the windows and put a winter scene around it. I think it looks pretty nice.

Saturday and Sunday

Yesterday (Saturday) I didn't feel like doing much. A couple loads of wash, made meals, watched 1 1/2 movies and read half of a book. That's it! As always, Jess was on her iPad, as well as Jon. He really needed these past days off. He's beginning to look more like himself.

Today (Sunday) began with breakfast watching church at Jessie's insistence. Our church's audio wasn't the best so I switched to Dr. David Jeremiah's church service. Then Jessie got bored with him and kept talking. It wasn't a very productive hour service for me. Oh, well.

Jon needed to go to work and have his weekly COVID test so Jess and I went along. After the test we got our lunch at Wendy's drive thru and "ate with the goats" - again. It was so funny this morning. I was getting ready in the bathroom, Jessie ran down the hall to the bathroom (naked!) and grabbed her bra. (She only wears it when she goes out!) I said, "Where do you think you're going?" "Wendy's!" she replied. So, that's what we did. We have been in the house for too many days. 

Jon cleaned up his office and work table in the laundry room. Jessie was on her iPad. I watched a movie then we had left-overs for dinner. I've watched more movies this month that I have all year! Guess I'll finish my book tonight.

Christmas Day

The day began earlier than usual. Jess was up about 7:30 waiting to go downstairs. She had the hallway light on and was sitting at the top of the stairs waiting for us to move the gate so we could come downstairs.

Lois was to arrive by 8:30 and we just couldn't keep Jessie that long without opening presents, so we let her open her stocking gifts from Santa (he only fills stockings for adults - no presents). 

She was more than ready to open presents when Lois arrived.

Jon and his stocking presents.

Me and my stocking.

Lois and her flashing necklace.

Jess definitely got her "ten presents".

Breakfast.

After breakfast we face timed Diane and Randie while we opened their presents that they dropped off on Wednesday and they opened ours. It went better than I expected and was fun.

Santa brought us some DVD's so after a nice Christmas dinner Lois, Jon and I watched MULAN. It was really good.

Ruth picked up Lois around 5:30 and Jon went back to his iPad and Jess on hers and I on mine!

We just didn't do anything else. For one, I was just too tired.

I'm having trouble getting these pictures the right size and the text next to them. It doesn't want to do what I want. Anyway, here's our Christmas picture for this year:

Plus, here's a Christmas card we had made this year ...

 

Christmas Eve

Unfortunately, today was just like most days. Filled with laundry, preparing breakfast foods for tomorrow morning, preparing a special dinner and caring for Jessie. We did take time out and watched our church's Christmas Eve service at 1:00 p.m. 

Jon worked and was even home 15 minutes early! I talked to Chris earlier today and asked her if she'd like to come over after she worked at church for the services. She arrived just as I was putting dinner on the table: duck, cheesy potatoes and corn (fresh off the cob frozen). It was nice to have company on this special evening.

Jessie was ready for bed around 7:30 and I managed to keep her up until 8:30. She helped me straighten up the family room, put out the stockings (I forgot to hang them earlier in the week!), and get cookies and milk out for Santa. As soon as we are sure Jessie is SOUND asleep, Jon and I will bring down the presents and put them under the tree. Lois will be here in the morning at 8:30 a.m., so I want everything ready by then. 

The tree pic was taken a little after 10:00. About an hour earlier than normal. 

Jessie made sure there was cookies and milk for Santa.

 

Another Christmas Party

I ordered breakfast from Leo's and Jennifer picked it up and brought it home. Jess, Jen and I celebrated Christmas with this special breakfast then we opened presents. 

As you can see from the picture, Jessie really liked the poop napkins and plates Jen gave her! Jessie and her love of the poop imogie. It's beyond me, that's for sure!

My present is a wreath with felt flowers made by Jessie and Jennifer. It is really nice! They did a good job.

Around 11:30 I went and spent the afternoon with Lois and Ruth. They ordered Louie's Pizza for lunch and we watched a Hallmark movie.

Diane and Randie came around 5:00 to deliver our presents and we gave them ours. That was really hard. I had hoped they would come and open gifts on the back porch. We'd wear coats and masks. Oh, well. At least we got to see each other. We'll open presents on Christmas Day and see each other with Face Time. 

This evening has brought me to (almost) tears. First Jessie was singing Christmas carols and she gets very emotional when she sings O Holy Night (my favorite song!). She begins to cry but then tries not to and keeps singing.

Later this evening she wanted to go to bed early after she put Christmas cookies and milk out for Santa. She did cry and get pretty upset when I reminded her she had one more day to go before we could do that. So, she fell asleep on the couch instead.

She's been emotional these past several days. First I know she's having a hard time with Jon being at work so much. Then to just see Diane and Randie and get gifts but can't open them. Today she watched our home videos from Christmas 1988. (That was hard for me, too!) Then just the excitement of Christmas. 

Then Jon's dealing with grief. Every time he talks about work and what he has to deal with each day with COVID breaks my heart for him. Ten residents that he's been with for several years are no longer there. It's going to take quite awhile to get back to "normal" there for everyone.

I grieve in a small way for all the families that will be celebrating Christmas in 2 days without someone they love and have lost this year. And this will be our 9th Christmas without Bill, and 10 for my Mom. Wow. Unbelievable. 

That's enough tears for awhile. I continue to praise my Heavenly Father for taking care of us these years. He is worthy of all praise. I love you, Jesus!

 

A Christmas Party

It was a busy day for all of us. Jon and I went to Panera Bread for a drive thru scone breakfast, Walgreen's, Debby's Dollar and the post office. We were home by 10:35 just as Jess and Jane were leaving for the pool. 

Jess and Jane had just gotten home when Rachel arrived with our pizza and salad lunch. Every year we go out to eat for our Christmas celebration, but that couldn't happen this year. We had cookies for dessert before we opened our presents to each other. Both Jane and Rachel spoil Jessie and she LOVES it!

Just after Rachel left, Mike and Angie came and with Jon's help got the toilet out of the van and upstairs. I now have a new toilet that works and doesn't leak! Yeah! No more buckets of water to flush the toilet. Thank you so much, Mike, for taking care of us as you have these past two weeks!

By the time they left it was dinner time so I began working on that. After dinner I rested for a bit before I went upstairs and put all Diane and Randie's presents in a huge black garbage bag because they are coming tomorrow late afternoon to porch deliver our presents and take theirs. This sure is a different Christmas! But, it'll be OK.