2010 Vacation/Staycation

Once again we had a great time at the Richardson Resort.

Roxie had a blast running with Smore and Star (the two dogs that live there) and playing chase with Princess (the cat that lives there). We got home this morning at 12:30 AM. Roxie went straight to bed and slept all night. She then moved to the sofa this morning and has slept non stop all day (it is now 3:15 PM).

Don and I had great fun and enjoyed a lot of quiet and relaxation.

Don picked sand plums and I made 27 jars of sand plum jelly (14 jars with jalapenos).

We made our annual trip to Porter to buy fresh peaches, made a stop at Bass Pro, and then had a wonderful visit with Portia and J.D. (Don's sister and her husband). They made us a really yummy meal and then we all enjoyed catching up on what has been going on in our lives since last year.

On Sunday, we went to church with Mom and dad and then they took us out to eat at Montana Mike's. We also got to visit with them a couple other times while we were there. That was really nice as it seems we don't make the time to go down and visit often enough.

Haleigh and Lorrine (our niece and Don's brother's wife) came up and canned peaches with us. Here is a picture of us after 8 hours of making and canning jams:



Bryan and Noel got home late Tuesday night and we really enjoyed hearing about their fun packed vacation to MD with Noel's father and her siblings. Sounded like they had a wonderful time. Wednesday we enjoyed some time hanging out with them, eating at the local Mexican joint, hanging out some more, and then having grilled burgers topped with fresh tomato slices, fresh-from-the garden cucumbers in vinegar, and home made peach cobbler together before we had to leave.

Our original plan was to leave Winfield on Wednesday and take Don's dad to see his brother in Houston and then his sister in Lake Charles, LA. That trip had to be canceled due to Don Sr. experiencing some back problems and being unable to travel. We were a little disappointed not to get to see Don's aunt and uncle but it will be nice to have a few days here at the house to get a few projects done.

What a blessing it was to be able to enjoy each other and our family on a great vacation!

A Great Birthday!

I must confess to you all that I have been feeling pretty low lately. Whether it is stress, worries, hormones, or Satan I have spent a lot of time over the last 6 weeks or so not feeling so good about myself or my life. At times I have felt helpless, hopeless, on the verge of panic, and often throwing myself quite the pitty party. I have been in prayer over these feelings and dreaming of a way to escape the funk.

Well, let me tell you something great. God has really been blessing me this week.

Yesterday I had lunch with Karen McCorkle and she remembered my birthday. That made me feel so loved and special it really brightened my day. In addition we had a wonderful visit and I really enjoyed catching up with her.

I also got a message from a really terrific friend (PJ - she was my Matron of Honor when Don & I got married) whom I had not been in contact with for more than 8 years. We have sent messages back and forth today catching up and planning to get together.

First thing this morning I got a call from Jenna, my 7-year-old niece who shares my birthday - just calling to wish me a happy birthday! What a special girl (and a special momma for helping her call Aunt Neta)!

Today my facebook was flooded with happy birthday wishes. What a joy! Every time I logged on I saw new messages.

Tonight I got to chat on the computer for a short time with my best friend from High School, Karen Wilkie. I sure do wish we lived closer!

I also received a text message from Trevor (my nephew) and Paige (my niece)!

This was all very uplifting at a time when I really needed it. God is good . . . . AND so are my wonderful family and friends!

Thanks Everybody!

One Crazy Night!

Well, last night as we waited for the Awana awards to begin I get a call and my brother (with his voice cracking with emotion) tells me that my mom is on her way to the hospital. Don and I run out of the church and head to Winfield.

When we get to the hospital we find that mom is VERY confused and throwing up blood. I have never seen her look worse and my dad was pretty upset to see her that way.

Bryan explains to me that mom was driving home from Winfield and started feeling light headed so she pulled over. (Thank goodness she was smart enough to pull over) Once she got pulled over she tried to call 911 but couldn't get her hands to push the right buttons. Thankfully in her dialing she must have pushed the speed dial button for Noel. Noel said she sounded very confused and told her she needed help. Bryan and Noel rushed to where she was and by the time they got there she was really confused and disoriented and they are not even sure she knew who they were. They were not sure what might happen so they called the ambulance to come get her.

Testing in the ER ruled out a stroke. Her hemoglobin count was 13. Dr. said this is low but they would not need to give her blood until the count gets under 8. My mom is a really tough woman and NEVER admits she is in pain or needs help. In the ER she just kept saying "I'm sick", "Somebody help me". We were all worried sick and emotions were running high.

Then dad admits that mom has been having trouble with her stomach for over a month and had told him she would go to the Dr. after Toni's wedding. (May 8th) You see, mom is sewing 5 dresses for the wedding and she told the Dr. this morning that she did not have time to go to the Dr.. (I bet she really didn't have time to be in the hospital for several days!)

Last night they said they could see a kidney stone on the CT but that that could not be causing all the symptoms she was experiencing. Nothing else was showing up on the tests so they gave her anti-nausea meds and morphine until her regular Dr. could come in the morning. Even morphine every 2-4 hours was not keeping her from saying she was in pain.

Don and I headed home about 10:45 since I had two final presentations to make today. We were on pins and needles just waiting and praying that God would heal mom and make everything OK.

This morning mom was stable and her pain was being better controlled but her hemoglobin count was down to 11. They decided to do a Colonoscopy to see what might be going on.

Then, this afternoon I received the best text. Colonoscopy showed no new bleeding. They did find several ulcers in mom's lower abdomen, which can be treated with medications and they are thinking she MAY get to go home tomorrow. We are so grateful that she is no longer confused and that she does not need surgery and that the problem is treatable with medicine!

Praise God for taking care of mom and her crazy kids that drove like maniacs to get to her!

Thanks to all my friends and family that said prayers and called with concern and words of encouragement. I could not have gotten through this without you!

Bedroom Makeover

For at least 8 years Don and I have searched for a comforter set. I searched the internet and stores but either couldn't find the colors I like, the style I like, or the price was too high. Finally the day after Thanksgiving we found a set that we loved and because of the special sales we were able to purchase as our gift to each other for Christmas.

Next step in the process, finding a paint color to compliment the new comforter. We must have looked at every paint sample in both Lowe's and Home Depot. Carried a pillow into the stores on numerous occasions trying to find just the right color. Next step, painting paint samples on the wall and trying to decide - still no luck in finding one we liked. Next, we took the sheets (which matched the comforter) to Home Depot and had the color matched. Ugh, still not exactly right. So, next I mixed matched color with the ceiling color we found and painted a sample on the wall. Wha la! That's the color. I painted a small piece of wood and Don took that to Home Depot, had the color matched, bought the paint and painted the room. He did a wonderful job and our long overdue makeover is now complete. The perfect added touch . . . . a nice new ceiling fan that my parents gave us for Christmas.

Don told me this morning that he woke up in the night and thought he was in a hotel. :-D

Check out the transformation:

SPRING HAS SPRUNG!

I looked outside Friday morning and noticed how beautifully our plum tree, forsythia bush, and red bud tree are blooming. While I was taking pictures the birds were singing, the squirrels were chasing each other up a tree, and everything just smells fresh and clean. Spring is here my friends!

Presenting a Lesson

Friday I presented my first lesson to 16 wonderful 1st Graders! The lesson lasted 30 minutes and was about inventions. It was a follow up to Mrs. Groom reading the book "Great Inventions" the day before and discussing inventions with the class. We reviewed the vocabulary words and I made a power point with pictures of inventions on a time line from how the first invention was to how it has been improved upon over the years. I was so excited that the students really got into it. They were so excited when I would change the slide to see what the next invention was and they wanted to talk a lot about what they noticed the new invention improved.

The most exciting part - I brought a "dial" phone that we have here at the house. I plugged it in and drew names for one student to hold my cell phone and one student to use use the dial phone to call my cell phone. They loved to listen in the old phone and see how it sounds different and all were really excited.

The best part was that at the end of the lesson everyone was excited and thought they could be great inventors!

Most encouraging part - As I was leaving I got big hugs and one little girl asked me if I could teach some more! It just doesn't get any better than that!

THE GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER

When Bella came to live with us we washed up Domino's old cat bed and put it out for her to sleep in. Well, Roxie was constantly laying in that bed. As Roxie got bigger and bigger this was obviously not comfortable but she continued to try to fit in it. Whoever got to the bed first was the one who got to sit in it.

So, for Christmas Roxie got her own comfy bed that was just her size. We thought this would solve the problem as they would each have their own special bed. BUT, this is what happens now: