"I Have Washed Your Feet"

"If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. John 13:14–17

My first week of CNA class is over. It's been both a challenging week and a rewarding week all rolled up into one. I'm the oldest one in the class, maybe old enough to be the mother of all the other students, and about ten years older than the instructor. Even so I have not felt out of place and I'm making friends. Today we practiced skills that included hand washing and foot washing. As Corie washed my right hand and Alyson washed my left, I mused at how on Monday (just five days ago) most of us were total strangers.

We had been prepared for the fact that we would be washing each other's feet, though most were apprehensive. I couldn't help but think of Jesus word's to His disciples when he girded Himself with a towel and prepared to wash their feet. Peter had been a little uneasy too. I made the decision to make myself available for foot washing and so I was the first. My foot was washed by the instructor. In the end we all had our feet washed, some of us more than once.

PS. I found the photo online and, after a little searching, discovered (I think) it is located in Dallas, Texas. If I ever get back to Dallas, I'm going to search it out.

A New Kind of Schedule

I am getting used to my new schedule. I think the Benadryl at night has done wonders and I am grateful for its wonder working properties. I learned quickly to eat a good breakfast and make my lunch light. A yogurt, a granola bar, and a piece of fruit get me through the day nicely.

I saw my friend from yesterday again this morning. We didn't speak but he made me smile just the same. He was tooling down the hall in his wheelchair, his feet moving very quickly, and singing. Every once in a while he would yodel a refrain. Around the corner he went singing, "I fall to pieces..." the knit cap on his head completing the scene.

The CNA class has been interesting. I'm finding that I not only learned a lot from watching my father's illness and taking care of my mom, but I am also learning how I could have done some things differently. I'm thankful that moms are typically very forgiving and also very much aware that my own mom would be blessed if I learn from the experience and use it to help others. She had a huge heart for the residents in each of the nursing homes she and Dad visited weekly. They went to four every week until my dad went into the hospital a little over five and a half years ago.

Since I haven't had time to play with my camera, I've been perusing old family pictures. The old photo of my grandpa and a shaggy dog out in the snow makes me smile. I love the gloves and what look like goggles. (Maybe someone else can tell me if it's something different. I know he wasn't flying airplanes...) And then there is my grandma, with her hand holding onto her hat, and maybe one of her six sisters. I lose track of which sister is which and then sometimes I'm not even sure if it is one.

Okay then. I'm off to bed. It's 9:36 pm and getting late.
:0)

Today was Better Than Yesterday

I forgot to wear green today, neglected to look for leprechauns, and found no pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. However, My Darling did make corned beef and cabbage while I was away. Maybe tomorrow I will find myself a Shamrock Shake...

This week I'm finding that taking a class is hard and not so hard all wrapped up in one. By the time I returned home yesterday afternoon I was exhausted and my eyes felt ready to fall out on the floor. I downed a cup of coffee and crashed on the couch until I chomped the inside of my cheek in a dream and rudely woke myself . After finishing my homework, and there was a lot, I popped a Benadryl and fell into bed by 9 pm. Today was better. We didn't do quite as much reading and though my eyes are tired, my stomach isn't churning. I shared a snack with a very young mom of three who had forgotten her lunch on the way out the door. I had an extra apple and an ample supply of granola bars in my bag. Always good to bring extra for those random moments.

On one of our breaks I passed a little old man in a wheelchair. He looked quite cheery. I smiled at him and he at me and after friendly hellos he said, "We meet again!" Of course, to the best of my knowledge, we have never met. I found myself smiling and recalling a time years back when we visited an old friend in the same nursing home. On our way out we had run into another elderly gentleman we knew. We had been members of the same church fellowship for many years, but when we walked away from Al, we heard him remark to someone nearby, "I've never seen those people in my life." Too funny.

I got my blood titer results this afternoon. I have immunities to measles, mumps, rubella, and chicken pox. The only thing that came back negative is hepatitis B and I was only guessing at that one. I remembered to make a copy to put in my files lest I need proof again.

*The photo is my great great grandmother and my father's brother Arthur. Photos of Grandma Arndt are rare so I am grateful to my cousin who sent me this one. I'm not entirely sure of gr. gr. grandma's  first name, but I think it may have been Julia. Her husband's name was Edward.

Here We Go

Okay. I think I'm ready. There are a few nagging fears that I may have forgotten or overlooked something regarding tomorrow. Am I sure of where the course is being held? Is there something I needed to bring? Actually, I guess I don't really have any major fears or questions, but perhaps with a little effort I could conjure up some anxiety... and probably very little effort. My class starts tomorrow. The butterflies are multiplying...

Last night we had some unexpected visitors. While My Darling helped Child Number 5 change the brake pads on his car, I got to visit with Grandchild Number 7 and his sweet, smiling mommy. Spencer was
content to sit on my lap for a little while, but it wasn't long before he let us know he'd had enough of Grandma and wanted Mommy back. When James and Nate came back in, we offered some supper. I had a big tossed salad in my fridge and that, coupled with some grilled cheese sandwiches (James and I had red chili sauce in ours), made for a tasty light meal to share. The others enjoyed a bowl of chocolate almond ice cream following the meal, but I opted to wash the dishes instead.

In the past 10 days we've had evening visits from five of our seven kids. Beth and Adam came for enchiladas with the boys just over a week ago and we had a great time playing Apples to Apples with them and Josh. Jake made certain we did not forget the promised dessert of ice cream. Hannah and Sergio were here for dinner Monday night. Nailing her down can be a challenge. Between babysitting and social engagements, she keeps herself busy. Dave called on Thursday wondering if we could keep the three while he and Leta went out together for a couple of hours. A dinner of macaroni and cheese and hotdogs was enjoyed by all. Ben came over to pick up his tax return on Friday night and stopped along the way to collect a pizza. Morgan was working so we missed her. Last night's visit from Nate and Sabrina meant everyone "very local" had passed through. Very cool. I'm hoping next weekend will bring a visit from Joe who is only an hour away, two if you count the fact that someone has to go get him.

You may (or may not) have noticed Spencer's cute "Princess in the house" bib. He needed a fresh bib and all I could find in the drawers were bibs for girls. He didn't seem too ruffled by the experience but did wait until it was removed to puke down the front of his sleeper. Ain't that just like a kid?

A Few Good Ducks

As I said on Facebook, I am getting my ducks in a row. I've talked to those for whom I babysit, gone for a drug screening, found and established myself with a new doctor, and had blood drawn for several titers. We're checking for immunities to measles, mumps, rubella, chicken pox, and hepatitis B. Fun stuff.

I had chicken pox when I was 2 months old. My brother Dan kindly shared the virus with Tim and me. Tim was "plastered" according to my dad's diary. Mom said they were in his mouth and down his throat as far as she could see. I was blessed with a light case and it was said that I'd be sure to get them again, but when my sisters and friends were down, I stayed healthy. The same was true when my own children broke out in spots.

When I was a few months shy of four years old, I came down with the mumps. I actually remember my mom feeling the sides of my throat and neck, and talking about "the mumps." Because of the memory, I asked her about me having them once but found she had forgotten all about it. Yet there it is on the back of my birth notice in Mom's handwriting, "Mumps- January 10, 1968" right under "Chicken Pox- May 21, 1964."


My brothers both had the measles before I was born. I had the vaccine but Mom hadn't written the date, and when I was in kindergarten in 1969, they herded us all upstairs to the nurse's office a class at a time where we were injected with the German measles vaccine. I remember it well because, not only did it feel weird to be taken upstairs in a line and given a shot, but I jumped when they put the needle in the first time, so I got a second dose.

I think I'm all set to start my class on Monday morning. Rearranging my sleep and rising times should be interesting, but having an actual reason to be up and out of the house early will be a great incentive. I'm trying to be calm and not stress out. Breathe deep, exhale... breathe deep, exhale...

Anyway, after this morning's appointment I came home to a quiet, empty house and wished for someone to meet for lunch. My wish was granted a short time later when the phone rang and I heard My Darling's voice on the other end of the line. The sun was shining bright, it felt like spring, and was a beautiful day to go out together.

Medical Records

The weather is changing and spring fever is running rampant. Underneath the snow rivers run and puddles grow. The driveway is a muddy mess and what was once a snow white over of fluff is now an icy, dirty, field of debris. In spite of the muddy disarray, the sun and warmer temperatures beckon us outside. Too bad I don't know what to do once I get out.

I went for a drug screening today, something I never imagined having to do. I've made numerous calls in an attempt to locate old medical records, specifically vaccinations, but apparently everything has been destroyed. I am a medical nobody outside of the records at my OB/GYN and they will disappear once my baby turns 21. I did learn I was last at the GYN in 2004. It was the same year I also had my last physical with a general practitioner, a mammogram or two, and was treated for a UTI. After that I lost my insurance coverage, wasn't sick, and soon after my then physician moved her practice to another location. All of my childhood records are gone and all of my adult records are gone too.

I am starting over. I have a clean slate, in a manner of speaking. Tomorrow I have a consultation with the nurse practitioner where My Darling has his doctor. (I should be writing out my life history...) I need to prove I am immune to the measles if I hope to ever get a job in the nursing home, and I need a doctor to order the titer to prove my immunity. Needless to say, it's been a busy week.

Visitng Tim and Other Sundry Stuff

Rachel and I went out to visit Tim this afternoon. In the month since we last visited he has been in and out of the hospital. He must have been pretty sick during that time (He had an e coli infection.) and perhaps our thwarted efforts to visit him were really for the better. He was up and walking today, eager to go out, and looking much thinner than he has in a very long time. If I had to guess, I'd say he's probably lost between 10 and 20 pounds in the past month. That's not all bad, as he has been overweight for several years, but it does verify he was in desperate need of help. I'm so glad he got it. He wasn't especially smiley today, but he did scarf down the snacks Rachel brought along.

Without much thought about it I left my camera home today. Sometimes I feel like a nuisance carrying it around, pointing it at people, and wanting to stop to capture whatever catches my eye. I forgot that it may be another month or so before I'm able to tag along again. I missed a sweet picture of Rachel and Tim walking down the sidewalk from the house to the car hand in hand. Even the aide there at the house remarked on the sweetness of the moment.

The snow is melting rapidly. There is no sign of snowmen in the little cars, just puddles of water left on the seats. The driveway is a patch of icy mud, with spots of cat grossness here and there, and there and here. Old cats and long, frigid, winters with deep, deep snow make for very yucky spring thaws. I'm not sure whether to haul a shovel out of the barn and attempt a cleanup or pray for a driving rain. Honestly, I need both, It's really that bad. (Blech!)

 I left you all hanging yesterday as to my future adventure. That's mostly because I am still digesting the plan myself. When Tim was to be treated with IV antibiotics, the intent was to move him to a bed at a nearby nursing home. Since we'd thought to visit him there, I looked up their website and saw they were scheduling a class for new CNA's. I planned to ask someone about it when we made our visit, but Tim went home on oral antibiotics instead. On Friday morning I picked up the phone and made an inquiry. That afternoon I received a call from the RN overseeing the program. She asked if I'd like to come in for an interview that afternoon. She told me I would know if I'd been chosen by sometime Tuesday. I received that call in the ten minute lull between Ladies' Prayer and our Women's Bible Study. I've scarcely had time to mull things over (which could be a good thing). I'm scrambling to come up with my apparently non-existent vaccination records and tomorrow morning I go for a drug screening. By Monday morning I'll be enrolled in a full fledged 100 hour class and on my way to who knows where...  Mom would be proud.

PS. Pets for your viewing pleasure. ha!

Turning Over a New Leaf

I promised no more snowmen and I am sad to have done so, but a promise is a promise. I will tell you that at least one of them, in their own pathetic way, made me smile this afternoon. The Red Hat Lady has quite the weight loss program... and a couple of the others succumbed to fatigue and were found slumped over their steering wheels... I've stolen their apparel leaving them stark naked in their vehicles. A cruel and heartless joke. (ha ha!)

I won't have much time for snowmen after this week. I'm turning over a new leaf, taking a break from my childishness, and shall try out being an adult for a few weeks. (I'll let you know how it turns out... ) I'll be taking a class, perhaps earning a certificate, and maybe finding myself a job when it's all complete. It's happened rather quickly and I'm finding myself slightly staggered and a little bit stressed. The class starts early Monday morning and run for 5-6 weeks. It will mean not only rearranging my own schedule, but it also means I can't get Em onto the bus in the morning.

I'm scrambling a little bit to get some medical records together. I've been remiss in keeping up with things like physicals and scarcely know if I have a doctor anymore. Tracking down my immunization records is proving to be a little bit of a challenge... Perhaps there is a blessing in this as I will need to get all that back in order. Better to do it now ahead of desperately needing a doctor for an actual medical emergency.

Prayers are appreciated as I begin this new endeavor.

Slushies

It may or may not have been a picture taking kind of day. It was bright and sunny and warm, if you care for mid 40's. After temperatures in the single digits, even freezing feels warm! It was warm enough to melt a little snow and conjure up a bit of mud. I stayed in (mostly) and did some of that work that never gets noticed unless you don't do it. You know, stuff like vacuuming inside the couches, washing the kitchen floor, and scrubbing toilets. It smells clean and tomorrow I can go out and know that something was accomplished this week in the way of housework.

It's a drippy kind of day. My snow people, who had noses made of snow this morning, are without sniffers this afternoon. This gal is doing the best in the nose department and even her's is significantly smaller, not that you care or anything. She'd have dropped her mittens on the ground if not for the stick arms I pushed deep into her shoulders yesterday. (I can hardly believe she still has eyes...)

Herb used to have a mustache and a ball cap. He's not near as handsome now as he was as a younger snowman. I suppose I should climb that old snowbank and rescue My Darling's hat (I let Herb borrow one) before a big wind comes off the lake and blows it to Timbuktu or even down to the drainage ditch. Those glasses Herb's wearing certainly can't hold on much longer. In no time at all they'll be down on the ground next to his mustache...

And then there's the Red Hat Lady. He beads are drooping (ha ha!) and she's leaning back in a rather tired kind of way. She's lost her sunglasses down there in the grass. She looks as if she may have had a little too much to drink... Things aren't going to get any better for this crew tomorrow, not with temperatures forecast to be in the upper 40's again. Most likely by tomorrow afternoon they'll all be little piles of slush with hats.

Alright, enough of snowmen. (I'm done now, honest.) It's time to check on what's for dinner. I've got a little pork roast in my crockpot. We'll eat that with mashed potatoes and maybe some cooked carrots. Maybe I'll even toss a batch of cookies in the oven for dessert. Maybe.

Titched, Titched in the Head

I know everyone is sick and tired of winter. No one wants to see any more white stuff or face any more cold, icy mornings. We're done with skating, sledding, skiing, and practically every other "s" word you can come up with, except snowman. We aren't done with snowman quite yet...

Yes, I am a little off kilter, a little un- balanced. Titched in the head, you might say, but it is the end of a long, cold winter and I am still smiling. I could be tearing my hair out or picking nits off the carpet... Perhaps a snowman building fetish is mild compared to what could be. Who knows? I might not build another snowman for months! Maybe even years!!!

My Darling had gone outside. I'm not sure what he was doing but I thought he wanted me to follow him, so I did. I threw a snowball or two at him as he worked to fix my rear windshield wiper. I secretly prayed the snowball would NOT find its way down the back of his neck. He tossed some more snow at me and as he ran for the house and I got him again. This time it went down his back. Oops. Thankfully he was kind and did not seek revenge.

I guess My Darling is not into building snowmen because after he went inside he did not return. That is really quite sad because snowmen are such happy, friendly fellas.

And Then It Was Saturday

I did something different this Saturday and hung out with My Darling. He had a small job to do for one of his clients, and I had a few errands of my own to run. Since we were both headed in the same general direction, we made it a team effort.

While at the client's home we saw a very sickly looking fox wandering through some backyards. His tail was bare from his backside down to the middle of his tail. It's been a long, rough winter for those living in the wild and I'm not sure that poor guy is going to make it. However, we saw a couple deer wandering through the same back yard a few minutes later. They looked much better than the fox, although I can't say there will be anything left of the shrubs and trees in the neighborhood.

My Darling and I enjoyed lunch together at Carrabba's, which has been on our minds since receiving a gift card from one of our kids at Christmas. We stopped at Target so I could pay off my credit card and picked up some pet food. The cats were very concerned this morning to find their bag of kibbles empty. Sofie had one more feeding left in her bag of dog food but she appeared oblivious. Truthfully, she'd probably be happy with a steady diet of apples, oranges, peppers, cucumbers and whatever other fruits and vegetables I care to share, but that would likely turn out to more expensive than a bag of dog food every few weeks.

Whilst wandering the aisles of Target we picked up a movie to take home and watch. (We considered going to see McFarland USA but we'd already been out for several hours, our animals were hungry, and the dog likely needed to go out.) After a "quick" snooze on the couch and a snippet of leftover enchiladas, we settled in to watch "The Book Thief," the tale of a young girl and her love of books during WW2. It was both interesting and thought provoking. We also picked up a copy of Disney's "Tangled" because it's my favorite and I decided it would be a good early birthday present.

Now it's time to turn our clocks ahead and attempt to adjust to losing an hour of sleep. I'll likely stumble around groggily tomorrow morning, like usual, until either a shower or a cup of coffee chases the sleep from my eyes. Spring is not far off once we switch those clock hands.

Random Acts of Kindness (Week 4)

Random Acts of Kindness. Smiles in the grocery store. Hugs for a friend. Words of encouragement to family members.

I was on my into the grocery store on Tuesday afternoon as a young mom with two little ones was on her way out. As her preschooler climbed into her van and the door started to shut, she called to him, "Open the door." But the door closed after him and did not reopen regardless of her pleas. On one arm she carried a baby in a carseat. Her other hand was full too. "I can open the door for you, " I said, "and I'll take your cart." She smiled and thanked me as she tucked her baby into the backseat of the van, and we both went away smiling.

If you have an RAK to share, hop on over to Betsy's and link up with the rest of us.

Winter's Sad Goodbye

Although the snow continues to fall, I think snowman season is just about over. I have to say, it was a good year. I've never had quite so much fun with snow people as I did this winter. I'm almost disappointed to see it go. Almost.

Some winters come with an abundance of wet, packy snow and others, like this one, come with a ferocious cold that keeps the snow powdery until it gets old and turns icy. This was a frigid winter with only a handful of days warm enough to pack a snowball.

Next week's temper- atures are expected to rise into the balmy 40's. Of course the snow won't melt overnight, and saying goodbye to heaps of snow at the end of a long cold winter isn't really too difficult. Even Frosty couldn't be around forever.

Winter may not be the favored season of many, but it has a beauty all its own if only we'll take the time to see. I can't help but recall the excitement of childhood when those first flakes of the season signaled winter's arrival. I don't ever want to lose that feeling and get lost in the drudgery of what can otherwise be just cold, gray, dirty, and depressing.

Bring on the birds and squirrels. Heap up the snowbanks! Get out your toboggans! Dig yourself a snow fort! Traipse through the woods in snow up to your knees! Catch those snowflakes on your tongue! Breathe the frosty air and freeze your nose shut! Lace up your skates! Grab your snow shovel! And don't forget to build a snowman!

Bits and Pieces

Rachel and I were supposed to visit Tim at the nursing home today, however someone changed the plans and he went home on oral antibiotics rather than to the nursing facility on an IV. He had a UTI and sepsis. Thankfully, he has some good people looking after him at home and his nurse will call if there are any problems. Rachel and I will try for a visit next week instead.

Mr. Motorcycle has met his demise. A strong south wind blew all night long and in the morning he was in a crumpled heap on the ground. Poor guy. (I have yet to collect his things...)

It's finally snowman making weather... I'm not quite sure what this will mean. Emma comes back in about ten minutes. She and I had a snowball fight (well, kind of) at the bus stop this morning. Later note- Never mind, it's not packing snow after all...

I went out to the Mexican Market to get some dried red chile peppers and afterward took a detour down to Lake Ontario and Sodus Point. I stopped at the Lighthouse museum, then drove down to the Point. I actually did get out of my vehicle to take a few photographs, but I left my mittens in the car which makes for some very cold (and probably chapped) hands.Good thing I have an ample supply of lotion. At least I hope I do...

My daughter called and invited me to go see  The Drop Box with her this evening. (It looks like those enchiladas I was planning will have to wait for another night.) I rarely see movies in the theater, and even rarer do I go with my kids. I don't think Beth and I have ever gone to a movie together as adults.

More photos because they are too fun not to share...

Cottages along the bay. It looks as if the tree is growing straight out of the ice.

I did not walk down the pier or venture foolishly out onto the ice.

There is still quite a good amount of ice on the lake. I can't imagine it will be gone anytime too soon.

I was not alone in my quest for pictures. These two were walking down just as I was getting ready to leave. I couldn't resist snapping a shot or two of them while they weren't looking.

Winter's Last Breath... Maybe

Winter is still with us. The day started out well enough but weather conditions are deteriorating as I type. Sometimes March is furious. It's kind of like winter's last stand. We just hope the old saying stays true, "In like a lion, out like a lamb." Right now it's trying to rain, which is really bad because the temperature is below freezing. (Maybe it's snowman weather after all...)

It has not been warm enough (until now?) to build new snowmen, and yet the old ones continue to age.( Listen to me... They're a whole 10 days old but to hear me talk you'd think they'd been around since Christmas!) Mr. Motorcycle's hat blew off last night and he's sporting a faux hawk. ha ha!

While out at the bus stop this morning, I noticed the driveway was looking all but impassible. Not wanting to be stuck in it later, I grabbed a shovel and scooped away some of the deeper sections. I almost made it out without getting stuck... Thankfully, it didn't take much to dig the snow out from around the tires and I was able to pull forward again, look both ways on the road behind me, and gun it out of the driveway. I even made it to Ladies' Prayer on time. Good thing. It would have been a shame to miss today's lesson.God always knows just what we need to hear.

I'm tucked in next to the wood stove waiting for my people to come home. It's warm and cozy, and I think we'll be having last night's leftover meatloaf for dinner with a fresh tossed salad. I think maybe I have to go check out what the weather is actually doing...

I decided it is landing as sleet. It sounds like ice hitting trees and such, but it's already frozen by the time it hits. No snowball fights today.

Timothy

Rachel and I planned to see our brother Tim last week, but our plans were thwarted by a Sunday afternoon call from the local hospital looking for consent to treat him. More mysteries... He had a fever and was lethargic, and so began the attempt to find the cause of this new ailment. After admitting him for "dehydration" (this guy drinks like a camel...) and running blood and urine tests, it was eventually determined that he had a urinary tract infection. (Both the blood test and urine tests came back positive.) As of this past Friday he was in need of 10 days of IV antibiotics and today, since the DDS residence doesn't administer IV's, he will be transferred to a local nursing facility for the remainder of that time.

I've been asked for consent to treat. I've been asked if I am his health care proxy, and I've been asked whether or not I am POA. I know I can give consent for treatment, as can my sisters, but have no clue as to whether anyone has ever been or is now a health proxy, and I have never signed papers (that I can recall) to be POA. And just what would I be POA over? He doesn't have any money...

The good thing is that the nursing facility is just 10-15 minutes from my home. Rachel and I can slip over to see him any time this week, and even if we don't take him out for a ride, we can still take him a treat of some kind. Maybe we can even bake him some cookies.

The photos are from old slides. My brothers were just little boys and there were no little sisters. Tim is on the left (blond with blue eyes) and Dan is on the right (with darker hair and big brown eyes).

Sunday Afternoon

It might be good snowman making weather, but I'm pretty sure it's still a little too cold. I have been busy playing "Lazy Sunday Afternoon" and not gone out into the wild, white world choosing rather to doze on and off on the couch while NASCAR buzzes in the background.

The bluejays show up at my feeder every day,  tossing seeds out of the feeder and onto the ground below. I don't fill it as soon as it's empty, not if they empty it onto the ground. Spring is on the way now and soon the little juncos who visit the feeder all year long, will disappear. I rarely see them in the summer. I think they go to Canada.

It's time for me to start my spring cleaning. I have dresser drawers and closets that are full to overflowing but there is nowhere to put the clothes I actually wear. I honestly don't know what is taking up all the room inside my dresser drawers. Probably the summer stuff that should have been packed away for the winter or hung on a hanger. Maybe I will surprise my husband and excavate our bedroom this week.