Day 150 -- New word and trip to Jodi's with Granny

Today I was reading a short essay about finding joy in airports, written by a pilot, and ran across a word I had never seen or heard of--so I shall share it with my small readership!  It is actually applicable to one of the family's in said readership:

conurbation      pronounced "conner bay shun"

Noun:  an extended urban area, typically consisting of several towns merging with the suburbs of one or more cities i.e. DFW

Granny has been doing so great while staying here in Belton with us.  I think she is excited about getting to see Jodi's house today.  That feeling of knowing where all your chicks are just gives us moms a settled place in our hearts so I know just how she feels.  We will be spending the night at Jodi's and coming home on Sunday.  I'm so excited I can be the one to get her out of her house and have a few small adventures with her and see her reactions.  

Day 149 -- Moving BG

Today was the day--moving BG and his meager belongings into assisted living at Elmcroft Senior Center.  When I got to his house, he was pacing the floor with his sweater (?) and his cap on still wondering what we were going to move.  I discovered he did not put on the clean clothes I had set out for him, so I made him change.  In a week's time, he had only underwear and one shirt in the dirty clothes hamper.  Our handymen from the office came with our pickup and trailer to load his stuff--and of course, it was drizzling rain.  They got things loaded and semi-covered with a tarp I had brought along.  I had BG and the dog stay at the house while we went to town with the stuff and got it offloaded into the assisted living place.  That was quite an undertaking--not because of the things we were taking in, but that the door closed behind us overtime and locked so we had to put in the code going in--and coming out which was very tedious and slowed down the process tremendously.  I understand the need for it, but nonetheless, it was frustrating.  After all was unloaded from this first trip, my helpers left and I stayed behind to unpack and arrange.  As I completed what I had to unpack, I took off back to the lake to get BG and get him back in time for his first official lunch at Elmcroft. We left the dog at the lake by himself and  I grabbed some more small boxes when I picked him up, and so while he sat in the dining room with his new 3 buddies he will be eating his meals with each day, I unpacked.  The nurse at Elmcroft wanted to talk to me in her office, so I went down for that and of course that was when BG finished his meal and tried to find his room and couldn't.  I heard him talking loudly as he went down the hall, but finished my meeting and only then went looking for him.  Found him and got him back to his room.  I made a list of the things I hadn't thought to bring him and told him I would be gone a couple of hours to get some things and then would be back.

When I got back, he jumped me immediately that his TV didn't work and he had told the people there 4 times and they still hadn't fixed it.  (I had told him 4 times today that he would not have TV service until next week when we could get the cable hooked up--but of course he remembers nothing that is said to him.)  So then I had to talk to the 3 people he jumped about the TV and make apologies, etc.  He was cold in the room--I was burning up while putting up curtains, shower curtains and stuff.  It was a circus!  He had also reported that his air conditioner didn't work while I was gone--because he couldn't get it like he wanted it.  I just gave a "bless your hearts" to all the staff he came in contact with and hoped that would keep them from kicking him out on his first day.  Hopefully he will fall in with the routines and not drive everyone there crazy wanting to take up their time talking and complaining.  But for the price he is paying for the place, they can just put up with it I guess.  We at least know where he is at all times and who he is with and that he is getting 3 good meals a day and a very comfortable place to live with laundry and housekeeping done for him.  I think he will really enjoy it once he figures things out.

Check out the place in photos  at:
 http://www.elmcroft.com/community/elmcroft-of-cottonwood/

Day 148 -- One of my favorite homes in Temple

I have driven by this home for all the years I have lived here, and have always thought it was the prettiest house on the street--a somewhat prestigious street named Stratford.  Today I finally got to go inside it--it is where our Bible study was held this morning.  The picture I found of it does not do it justice--it has a full porch across the front of it and looks like something in Georgia.  As it turns out, the people that built it 35 years ago are from Mississippi so not too far off.  Just a beautiful Southern home that looks both gracious and comfortable.  Turns out it is a couple in our church that we have known as acquaintances for some time--in fact, at one time Bill went to him as his physician.  While the rest of us who have hosted Bible study in our homes, got out the best mugs for coffee and the plastic dessert plates for snacks, this classy Southern Belle had her mom's china cups and saucers and plates and silver to serve us with!  It was like Steel Magnolias meet TBC Bible study group.  Everything was perfect and the backyard was out of a magazine.  I'm so glad I got to see this house finally.  If it ever goes up for sale, I would do my best to be able to buy it--although I suspect my budget wouldn't cover it!  And such sweet unpretentious people.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/3001+Stratford+Dr,+Temple,+TX+76502/@31.057997,-97.3912977,3a,53y,165.4h,90.86t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sB9eHxxb9YRLGA98n1WyVrg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!4m5!3m4!1s0x86456b296ebf09df:0xbb1e035677c40e59!8m2!3d31.057659!4d-97.39124

Day 147 -- Laundry for Houston family

Today I did laundry for a family in the Houston area whose house was flooded and are currently living somewhere besides home.  I've wanted so badly to help people in that area, but the timing was not good for me to be able to go down there and do anything.  A lady in my Bible study class has a niece that lives there and it is that family that our Bible study group is helping.  They were able to get out with clothes, linens, etc. because they were higher up as the water began to rise.  This aunt who is in my Bible study took all their cloth items back to her house here in Temple to store for them to wash and sanitize and then store for them until they are back at home.  When she told the story, we realized how overwhelming the amount of laundry would be for one person, so several of us volunteered to do a part of it for her.  Last week she brought trash bags full of things, plus tubs to pack it into, plus Lysol sanitizer for washing machines for each of us taking some home with us.  So that is what I have done today while doing lots of other things.  I feel like I had a small part in helping someone in need of help, and it makes me feel better that I got to do something.

Day 146 -- Shopping with Mom

I don't know how long it has been since I've been able to go shopping with Mom.  But today, she was game to try it.  So we went on the pursuit of a new watch for her.  We decided to try Kohl's because they also had some jeans she was interested in.  Sure enough, we found a watch she liked and she bought a pair of jeans and a blouse to go with them.  I consider this a new first simply because it has been so very long since she was up for any kind of shopping, but she did very well and I was so happy she was willing to give it a try!  

I also stopped by the assisted living home to give the paperwork from the doctor to them and was bombarded about him moving in tomorrow (Wed.).  I told them that just wouldn't work, and they said that Bill told them that is when he would be moving him.  I informed them that Bill will be on an airplane to Utah tomorrow and will have nothing to do with the move, so I have to do it according to my schedule--which will be Friday.  So then I got another call later in the day about the same situation--suddenly since they have our deposit, they are getting a little pushy for me.  But I'm sticking to my guns--Friday unless it is raining cats and dogs, and then it will probably be Monday!

Day 145 -- Lazy Morning, Crazy afternoon/evening

Mom's first day here with us started slow as we were pretty tired from our drive in to Belton last night.  I sat down with my Christmas music and demo tapes to practice a little on some songs before we have rehearsal tonight.  What hard music!  I fear I may be biting off more than I can chew, but I'm not giving up yet by a long shot.  Went for my workout at 1:00 and then came back to house and sang some more for about a hour.  My next appointment was to take BG to the doctor at 5:30 which I knew was probably going to make me late for my rehearsal which did not make me happy.  But I took him to the doctor which was a first for me, and of course, I didn't have all the answers the doctor needed, but did know enough for him to get his paperwork done to move into the assisted living place later this week.  I felt I was in a time warp the whole time I was in the clinic with BG because the doctor and I were talking about pertinent things and BG was talking somewhere out in left field the whole time.  I did find out something from the doctor which was bizarre--coming from a doctor.  He asked me if I had read BG's book he wrote--I said I didn't he had written one.  Dr. Martin said yes indeed he had and that he had a copy of it.  It is about BG's experiences in law enforcement.  So I asked BG if we could copy it (it is just a manuscript--not a real "book") and he thought he had given it to Randy, his middle son.  However, when I left him back at his house, he was going to look for it.  I was, as I supposed I would be, late for rehearsal, but got there for all but about 15 minutes of it.  Did I mention the music is really hard??

Day 144 -- Migas for Breakfast

I have seen the dish called migas many times on menus at restaurants but have never gotten the opportunity to try them until today, when Jeff spent the morning making them for us for our brunch.  I confess, I would never go to that much trouble for almost any meal, but he intently chopped, stirred, grated, browned and so on as I visited with Mandi and the kids did whatever they were up to this morning--football I think.  Finally, the finished product was ready to go so I watched what the kids did, and then I filled my plate with yumminess.  Thanks Jeff for being such a good cook and making me a new dish to try.  I vote you best non-Mexican restaurant migas--and maybe the best of even the restaurants--since I've never tried them at one, I really can't judge!

LARGE pan of migas--Watts style

My plate full

Brunch with my grandkids!

Grocery shopping, carrying in and putting away
is a family affair!

Day 143 -- First Grade Soccer Game

Today I got to go watch Clay play his first game of organized soccer while Jeff took Ruth one direction and Weston stayed to watch over Mandi.  Max went with us but wasn't all that interested in the game as he had my iPad to play with!  The little boys and girls on Clay's team were so cute--only one or two seemed to know much about what to do, but they knew when everyone ganged up in a huddle of pushing and kicking, that they were supposed to be there too to get that ball and kick it!  I loved watching him and was so glad I happened to be there for his first game--and mine with him.

Day 142 -- Teaching First Grade

My professional life was spent at the high end of the school spectrum--mostly juniors and seniors.  But today I got to be a first grade teacher!  And, of course, I had the perfect situation--one-on-one with my sweet Clay.  We began the morning with math--another first in my teaching experiences.  Luckily, I am still capable of first grade math so that went smoothly!  We did reading, writing and 'rithmetic as well as spelling, history and art.  Weston, Max and Ruth were at it too, but they were more on cruise control so I got to really focus on Clay and it was such fun!  

In the meantime, Mandi and Jeff were at the hospital while Mandi had her knee surgery, and thankfully Jeff kept me updated on what was going on there.  The surgery went well, and she was home by about 2:30.  

Day 141 -- Crazy Watts Life!

Today after Bible study I headed for Flower Mound to be there to help when Mandi has surgery tomorrow.  I arrived (without delay or incident) at the Watts casa in time to take a deep breath before it was time to take Max to gymnastics practice.  This is is first year so I was anxious to see him at his lesson, but also wanted to go to Plano to watch Weston practice basketball.  So Mandi and I headed to the gym with Max and I got to watch his warmup and about half his lesson when Jeff came by to get me so we could head to Plano with Ruth and Weston for their practices of cross country and basketball.  This was, of course, during rush hour so it was not an easy drive for Jeff.  After getting to Plano, the two kids' events were naturally across town from each other so Weston and I were dropped off at the gym, and Jeff then took Ruth to her place for cross country.  Then, knowing we would not get home until almost 9 p.m., Jeff went in search of some food he could get to take home so we would have something to eat when we got there later.  The consensus had been for tacos so he went to a place and ordered off the catering menu for fajita tacos for 10!  Then he drove back to the gym to pick up Weston and I when that practice was done.  We loaded up in the car to the smells of Mexican food and drove to get Ruth.  At this beautiful park where they practice, we walked down the hill to the place where they congregate as they finish running hoping to watch Ruth come in, but she had already finished her run.  By now it was getting dark, but they weren't through,  The kids walked back up the hill and did their cool down and stretching while Jeff, Weston and I waited in the car for them to finish.  By the time they were through it was 8:00 at which time we headed back to Flower Mound.  When we got there, we unloaded tons of food it seemed, and we all enjoyed a Mexican fiesta before calling it a day--and what a day it was.  I got a first hand look at the schedule this family adheres to so that they can give their children the opportunities they have each chosen on their own to experience this year.  I so admire their dedication to their children's education and activities which are giving my grandkids such a well-rounded life.  But I must admit, Nana was exhausted by it all!

Day 140 -- Elmcroft

Today Bill and I took his dad to visit an assisted living facility in Temple.  We were not sure what his reaction would be but it was time to do something to make his life and ours a littler easier.  The place is very near our office and our church.  We took him inside and he immediately started commenting on how pretty the place was and asking how much it must cost.  The marketing director gave us a tour of the facility and he loved that they have a library.  He met some of the residents (mostly women) and he always complimented them on how nice they looked--the charming Southern gent.  We looked at two different rooms--the one that we hope to get him into, and the one that is currently available for him to move into now.  The empty one is the larger model and of course more expensive, but we would get him on a waiting list for the suite that is a little smaller and cheaper.  They are very nice rooms and the entire facility is clean, the staff friendly, lots of amenities such as getting his laundry done, his room cleaned, his meals, day trips he can sign up to go on, activities, and mostly people to talk to!  By the time we made the rounds, he was sold on it and even agreed to let his dog go to Autumn to live with visitations from time to time.  We went to the dining room and ate lunch which was delicious--tablecloths, real silverware, cloth napkins and glassware, and you order off a menu and they bring the food to you on plates--not trays.  They have a outdoor courtyard that is in the middle of the round building so you can go outside for walks but during inclement weather he can just walk around the circle which is the building itself and be in climate controlled conditions.  Bill put down a deposit on the room today and we are on the way to a better, safer environment for BG.

Day 139 -- Family Reunion

Today I had a court hearing for two of my CASA children--they are half-brothers at the same foster home, one age 3 and one aged 1.  The one-year-old was the lucky one today because he is getting to go back and live with his Daddy.  It is a monitored return meaning CPS and CASA will still be in their lives every week, but he will be with a parent rather than a foster home.  Unfortunately, his big brother is not so lucky--we can't even find his dad and the mother of the two boys is not stable enough to have him.  So he is stuck in the system.  The court won't give him to his maternal grandparents in Maryland so he will probably be one of the kids that gets stuck in the system long-term because he has learning disabilities and autism.  So in the same hearing, I felt joy and sadness.  But such is the way of these cases so often.

Day 138 -- Central Texas Master Singers

Tonight I finally did it--went to the tryouts for the Central Texas Master Singers, a group of perhaps 50-60 singers who sing classical church anthems in 4-6 part harmony and have fabulous Christmas concerts.  I have wanted to be in that group since I heard them sing the first time--they do concerts with full orchestra and I have only been to Christmas concerts that they have done in the past.  This year, they will be recording 4 of the Christmas concerts and the best will be made into a CD.  Rehearsals are for 2 hours on Monday nights and people come from all around to sing with them.  I have a short 4 minute drive home while some have hours to drive after it is over.  The music is hard, the conductor is a stickler, but the sound is beautiful when everything is learned.  I haven't sung in a choir in about 20 years except a short stint in one that I didn't much enjoy--and nothing strenuous since The Four Friends and some Christmas cantatas at First Baptist Church.  All concerts are done without music so lots of memory work.  It seems like a daunting task, but I will give it my best shot.  Oh, and the conductor of the choir is now working in Avis' Georgetown office and they told him that if he ever needed a substitute pianist, I could fill in!  I assured him I could not unless I had lots of warning time!

The stack of music I was given tonight that we will be learning!

                                                                                 

Yeah--I'll just sit down and sightread that!

   

137 -- Opera in the Afternoon

Today Christ Episcopal Church  in Temple presents the 5th  Sunday afternoon "Music to Help Others" which they do periodically.  Today the program features the Hogans, a married couple, on the  UMHB opera music faculty, presenting arias from various operas.  Having really no ear for,  nor appreciation of opera, I have never attended anything with the word "opera" in it.  This program will benefit Churches Touching Lives for Christ, an ecumenical organization to help homeless, elderly, disabled, and those marginally employed or unemployed--mostly with food at their food pantry but also with providing Bibles, toiletries and clothing to newly released prisoners undergoing substance-abuse counseling.  Considering how much my children in CASA are touched by these various problems in society, I decided I should support this effort--and try to polish up my appreciation for opera at the same time.  Who knows, this may be just what gets me hooked on it!

Post-program addendum:
What a great musical performance Penny and George Hogan presented for a solid hour.  It was not just opera.  The first part was old songs of the faith done in very classical renditions with their beautiful soprano and bass voices.  Some were duets and some were solos--several were old spirituals which were just beautiful.  The second half started with two operatic pieces in Italian which of course I couldn't understand at all.  What I did discover about opera, is that is is really visual art as much as a vocal art, because without knowing the words, you get an idea of the lyrics by the facial expressions and movements of the singer.  The control of their voices were amazing to listen to.  After those two forays into opera, they then turned to tunes from some of the famous musicals such as South Pacific and others.  Every song was beautiful, and gave me a new appreciation for the classically trained voice!  So glad I went.

I wanted to share pictures of the venue--this is one of the prettiest churches in our area I think.

Day 136 -- Soul Food Truck

Today was the CASA garage sale which we worked so hard to get organized for yesterday.  The plan for the day was to have a food truck at the sale so that people could get some lunch or a cold drink if they wanted while shopping at the sale.  The lady who is our PR person said that last night at 8:30 she found out the truck who had committed to come called her and backed out.  In a small panic, she put out something on Facebook about anyone knowing of someone she could get as a replacement for this food truck to let her know.   Now switch to the other side of the story after the Facebook post:  we had a food truck today called Soul Food, and I visited with the man who owns it.  He said that last night at 8:30 or so he was at a gas station filling up his generator with fuel to be prepared for a commitment he had today.  Someone else whom he did not know was also filling up with gas and saw this plea for another food truck for our event today.  So this unknown person walked over to the food truck guy and showed him the post.  The Soul Food guy said he would sure like to help, but he already had a commitment.  BUT, on his way from the gas station to his home, he said he felt a huge feeling come over him that he needed to be at our event because his truck is called "soul" not just because of the food but because it is his ministry to the souls of the homeless and helpless and he felt God was telling him to be there to help the children we serve.  Whatever he sells from the truck, he donates 60% of to those in need.  His long-range plan is to have 23 food trucks in the area and open a clothing "pantry" for the homeless and helpless.  So he called the people he was supposed to work for  which was for a shelter that was raising money and told them he had to do this today for CASA, but that he would still come for theirs after the lunch crowd and be there for the dinner.  They were not mad but ecstatic that he was helping our children in CASA.  It was just a neat God moment that happened at that gas station last night and that he shared with me today--it gave me chills.  Because he helped us out, we donated all the clothes we had at the garage sale to he and his wife as they begin their goal of having clothing for those in need.  I also had the catfish dinner from his truck and got Bill the red beans and rice and they were delicious!  The man can cook!

Day 135 -- No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

Today was set up day for the CASA garage sale.  I was on the job by 7:45 a.m. and got home at about 8:30 p.m.  As most volunteer things seem to go, there were not many of us there to do the work.  We had tons of things to get from the storage facilities to the site, unload, unpack, sort, display and then price.  It was brutal, but for a good cause.  One of the particularly aggravating things that occurred is that the church in which the garage sale is being held, told all their employees they could go ahead and come in and shop on set up day.  We couldn't very well put up a fuss because we were getting the rooms for free for two days--so while we were still unpacking, people were wanting to know prices and suddenly there were more and more people coming in because staff called friends, and on and on.  They were in the way, wanting to negotiate on prices before we had were even ready for the event and it was just a hinderance to our work.  At the end of the evening, I had put aside a few small items that I wanted to buy which added up to $10 so I got my billfold out of my purse which was tucked in behind the door by where we were taking money--and found that over $100 was gone from my billfold.  It had been there when I left for lunch because I got out a $1 bill to pay for a drink.  So while in a church, with church staff and their friends coming in and shopping when we were not ready for them, someone managed to get into my purse and wallet and help themselves to all my cash.  I was so discouraged and angry when I got home--my first time to be robbed and in a sense, right under my nose.

Day 134 -- An Answer to Prayer

Our house is now 14 years old.  I remember when we were building it that I asked God to help me find ways that I could use it for Him because it was only because of blessings he had given us that we were able to build such a big fine house.  I thought in my mind that I would be hosting Bible studies, etc. through the years, but it turned out that all the Bible studies I participated in had localized meeting places such as churches so no homes were ever needed.  Bill has used the house many times for business meetings etc., and I have had social events here,  but it seemed there never was an opportunity to use it to honor God.  This year I got into a new Bible study group through our church and by invitation from  my friend Jill who is the leader.  While the group is under the umbrella of TBC, they meet in members homes rather than at the church like most of the other women's studies.  So on our second week of our new study, I volunteered our home for the women to come to for our Thursday morning meeting.  I fel,t like I had finally honored a commitment I made 14 years ago, and I'm so excited that everyone came and we had such a great discussion and time of fellowship.

Day 133 -- Early Fall

Today I was getting out extra chairs and puttering around getting the house ready for my Bible study group to meet here tomorrow.  It suddenly hit me that I wanted to go ahead and put up the fall decorations--if people can decorate 2 months before Christmas, I can certainly indulge in decorating for fall a few weeks early.  So I spent quite a bit of time lugging things up from the garage storage--not near everything but enough to satisfy me that fall will soon be upon us.  This is the first time that I have ever gotten fall decorations out before October--so I'm ahead of at least one curve this year!

Day 132 -- Home from the hospital

I have done this day so many times I can't even remember the first time I brought Bill home from a hospital stay.  It is his home away from home I sometimes think.  So there is no first buried in this post--I am just glad that once again I got to bring him home from a hospital stay to begin his healing which is almost impossible in a hospital.  He is staying downstairs--sleeping in his recliner rather than a bed because that hurts to much.  I'll have to make up a first for this day down the line somewhere because it absolutely was a scene out of Groundhog Day.  Everyone will understand that except Granny!

Day 131 -- Preparations

This afternoon I spent some time away from the hospital getting our basement a little more handicap accessible for Bill as he is hopefully getting discharged from the hospital tomorrow.  We talked yesterday about what he would do when he got home because he had to either choose upstairs full-time or downstairs full-time for a while as the stairs loom large between the two.  As I expected, he chose downstairs because the recliner trumps the bed every time!  I dashed off from the hospital and bought a grab bar and stool for the shower downstairs (which I installed and put together), one of those tools to pick up things without having to stoop, and pulled down the Murphy bed and got sheets and all on it so he could sleep somewhere besides the recliner if he so desired.  I also moved some furniture a little bit so the walker would fit between all the places he might want to go in his small domain.  I stocked the fridge with fizzy waters, packed up all his meds and took them down and will have it all ready for him when he gets here.  Thankfully, Harry had an extra walker, so we are borrowing it.  Next time I am in Haskell, I will probably get Dad's walker and bring it here.  Avis and Harry came to visit Bill and then took me to dinner--first decent meal since Friday lunch for which I was extremely grateful.  Bill seemed to be feeling better tonight, but it could also have been somewhat of an act for Harry and Avis--hard to tell.  The hematoma is beginning to drain downward through tissue, and he has a huge black and purple area in the bend of his right knee.  The doctor told him today it would take a good two weeks for all that to drain off.  His hemoglobin had gone down one more point to 9.  But if the tests are good in the morning, she will let him come home--with good pain meds I hope!

Day 130 -- When it rains, it pours

I used the above phrase in talking about all the things that have recently happened and are continuing to happen in our family right now--death of an uncle and my dad, hospitalization of Philip and Bill, and Uncle Jack.  Why so much for this family?  Then I had to say "Why not?" as I look at the devastation in Houston and Florida from hurricanes and what is going on throughout the world.  We are not immune from hard times, but we are in control of how we handle them--in fact, it shows our true nature.  My friend and leader of the Bible study I am doing right now, has a prodigal son who has wrecked his health and life through alcoholism.  Today she found out he had gone missing and was in his girlfriend's car.  Later she let us know he had been found--locked up in jail for DUI and fighting the police who arrested him.  The car was found at a gas station where he had stopped to buy gas and locked himself out of the car so he couldn't drive away in it.  She praised God for answered prayer--that he was safe in jail where he would come to no harm and couldn't continue drinking--and that he had locked himself out of the car so he couldn't harm himself or others.  That is strong faith in God and for how he answers our prayers in his own way.   I have vowed, with God's help, to take these sad and hard times I am currently going through, and see them through with joy--joy that God gives us peace and guidance through all things if I will let him.  And when I let him, I may have tears--of both sadness and joy--coming out of my eyes at the same time--and that is okay too.

Day 129 -- Hospital Blues

After a 13 hour stint in the ER, Bill was admitted to the hospital today.  Diagnosis was a very large hematoma on his right hip and buttock caused from a bleed after having an injection in his right hip for pain a week ago.  Wait--I'm seeing this man in more pain than I have ever seen him in during our entire time together--and it was caused by a injection to take care of pain?  That is the oxymoron of this hospital stay.  He goes to a pain clinic to get relief from pain and ends up in more pain than he has ever been in.  Who would have ever imagined such a thing--certainly he wouldn't have or he would have lived with the pain he had, instead of the pain he has.

Day 128 -- Nathan Paul's

Today I met Bill for lunch and we drove downtown to eat at a place we go to quite often.  There were no parking places nearby so I told him I had seen a new place downtown so why not try it.  The name of it is Nathan Paul's Rations.  It was mostly a sandwich shop but also soups, chili, shrimp poboys, etc. I got a Reuben Sandwich and it was delicious.  Bill got something else and he said it was good and he would definitely come back.  It is always good to discover new eating places that aren't franchise.

Day 127 -- The Promised One

Today my new Bible study began with a new group of ladies I hope to soon be able to call my friends.  Our church is so large that while we may all attend, we don't attend the same services, sit on the same side of the church, etc. so sometimes it can be hard to meet new people within the church.  There were 20 women at this first meeting, and only 3 of us were new to the group.  So we introduced ourselves, and were welcomed in with open arms.  After the introductory lessons, many of us went out to eat.  We sat at tables of 4-5 so that we could get to know each other better.  We will be doing this each week so that hopefully, I will have the names squared away before long.  Thank goodness we were all wearing name tags!  Next Thursday it will be at my house.  I thought I would jump in and get it on a week my housekeepers came!  I'm glad to be in this study about seeing Jesus in the book of Genesis.

Day 126 -- Getting Granny "hooked up"

Today, mom's alert necklace came in and so I set about getting it activated.  It took some time, but wasn't hard, and now she is connected to help if she needs it while she is in the house alone.  This is a great comfort to Danny and me, and I believe will be for mom as well.  Thank goodness we live in the age of technology!

Day 125 -- Happy Birthday Mom

Mom has said so many times today she can't believe she is 86--and that she has a daughter who is 65 and a granddaughter that is 40.  Well, neither can the daughter and granddaughter!  Life just rolls along so quickly while we are busy doing all the mundane things we do every day and suddenly there we are--86, 65, 40.  Many friends and family have called and come by to see Mom today--with the apprehension that they might make things worse by saying "happy" at such a time in her life.  But she is handle all things well--at least during the times I see her.  She loves talking about Daddy and she keeps alive for all of us that way.  She is talking with Jodi right now, telling things Granddaddy said and did and laughing as she does so.  She has had a good day.  Happy birthday Mom!  Love you!

Day 124 -- Labor Day

With renewed strength and probably some nervous energy, Mom tackled some house cleaning today.  It was good to see her in cleaning mode as she used to be, knowing that when her house is back in order, she will feel better again as well.  I had plans to join Patsy and Pam for lunch at Pam's house at 11:45 so I left her cleaning in the bedroom, and when I got back at 2:30 she was still at it in a different area of the house.

Mothers never quit teaching us despite their age or health.  Mom has been teaching me about strength, faith, and determination this week--lessons I will need myself at some point in time beyond this.

Day 123 -- God's Design for Life

Ecclesiastes is probably best known for the 3rd chapter which talks about " a time for..."  These verses are certainly appropriate for our family at this season of our lives.

• v. 2 A time to give birth (Charlotte) and a time to die (Granddaddy)
• v. 4 A time to weep and a time to laugh--we have cried tears and laughed at stories all week as a family
• A time to tear apart and a time to sew together (Janice and I "coincidently" running into each other and reuniting in friendship

Today, because she wasn't having to watch over Dad, Mom was able to attend church for the first time in a year and a half.  Loss leading to gain and the joy of church attendance again.  A time for...

Today Mandi and family came to celebrated Mom's 86th birthday a few days early so it was a joyous day.  With strong faith, joy can not be squelched despite loss and pain.  Thank goodness we have that kind of faith in our family!

Day 122 -- Spring Cleaning in August

Today, Mom and I started cleaning out closets and drawers like crazy women.  We started with the closet in the guest bedroom and the drawers in that dresser, and I hauled stuff out to either the trash or my car (for the CASA garage sale).  Next we moved into her bedroom and tackled that closet (which wasn't too bad) and then the drawers in her dresser.  If you know of anyone who needs decades old yards of material for quilting, making costumes, whatever--I've got it all in the back of my car!  Wish I had paid more attention in home economics and maybe I could use them for something!

Day 121 -- Anson Landmark

For all my life, I have been driven or been driven around the majestic-looking courthouse in the middle of Anson, Texas, but until today I had never been inside of the structure.  While it looks imposing and beautiful from the outside, the inside was very disappointing as it was dingy, dark, in great need of repair, and with boxes of things stacked in the halls where I assume they are being "stored".  I can only guess that the county doesn't have the funds to remodel and update this historic structure which is such a shame.  Mother and I drove over there to get a certified copy of their marriage certificate for social security.  Besides this first of going inside the building, I also learned that while you can order certified birth certificates online in Texas, you have to go in person to the courthouse if you need a marriage license certified. I'm so glad my parents didn't get married in Amarillo or El Paso or Brownsville!