Thursday

(Pictures sent from Florida by my daughter.)

More goodbyes were said today and there are more to come tomorrow. I am ready to start my new job the Monday after my return from Cape Cod. All the paperwork has been filled out the PPD test read. All the background checks and fingerprint requirements are computerized. Everyone so far seems cheerful and friendly. I am looking forward to working in my hometown.

In other news, my oldest daughter has been in Florida this week and had the pleasure of visiting my eldest son and his family. It makes my heart smile to see the pictures, and Lord knows I needed to smile this week! What a great bunch of grandkids I have!

That's Josh in the white T shirt, Jake with the cowboy hat and Henry on his lap. Parker is squeezed in between Henry and Jonah and Jill is stretching her mouth into a silly face. Austin has long, curly hair and Charlotte is dancing in front. Those are grandchild numbers 1, 5, 6, 8, 11, 13, 14, and 17. Eight of my seventeen.

Last Week's Bits and Pieces

* Last week was long and melancholy. Some weeks are like that. I'm thankful most are not.

* My sweet Bethany will not need another surgery to remove her appendix. The latest scan showed it to be only an inch long, far smaller than a normal appendix, and healed. If it ever gives her trouble, it will be nothing like the trouble it caused in early November. We are grateful.

* My car is now wearing its winter boots. I am ready for snow should it ever see fit to arrive. It also has a new exhaust system and a pretty new inspection sticker. Have I ever told you how thankful I am for my savings account? Now I am thankful for what is left of it.

* Last weekend The Trio (Numbers 2, 3, and 4) and I made gingerbread houses. I went to their house for the first time since I can't remember when, and even stayed for supper. It was wonderful!

* Even though it was cold yesterday, it was warm enough to go down to the lake for a bit. I filled a Snapple bottle halfway with beach glass. The waves have been active and the shoreline lonely. Perfect for pieces to wash onto the stones.

* I finally got around to sorting through some more stuff. I have three boxes by the back door waiting for a ride. One, full of craftiness, will be going to work with me. (I am a collector of good intentions. Good craft intentions.)

* It's been a good weekend. Back to work tomorrow. Back to loving the littles.

Just Keep Praying

I'm barely sure what day it is anymore... Actually, I know it's Thursday, it just doesn't feel normal because it's anything but. My girl had surgery on Tuesday evening, but they did not take her appendix yet. Too much inflammation in other places. I don't understand all of it, but I know she is getting the best care possible. She sounded so very sick on the phone last night that after we hung up I cried. The helpless feeling washed over and my heart was aching. She may be halfway to 70, but she is still my baby. As a family we are all angry that the hospital she went to on Saturday sent her home with a probable stomach ulcer, stating if she had appendicitis she would be a lot sicker. We are thanking God for sparing her life and pray for a full recovery. She said she was feeling a little better this morning and I am so grateful, although I know she is far from all better.

I am able to be here with the kids until returning to work Monday morning. A friend has found donors of breast milk for Henry and set up a Meal Train. What is needed next are friends to come here to help after she returns home from the hospital. She can not be expected to keep up with four children when she is released. Please pray we are able to find available friends and family members who are willing to give of their time for the next several weeks.

The weather has turned from winter back to summer. I had the door open for much of the day and even carried the baby around the block mid afternoon. When Adam returned home I asked him where a stroller might be hiding. Of course it was right there in the closet next to my jacket which I hung there yesterday morning. The weather is forecast to remain warm the next few days so we'll definitely be going for a walk.

I guess there's an election battle going on, but I'm trying not to notice. God knows all about that fiasco and He is ultimately in control no matter what the outcome. 

Thank you for your prayers on all fronts.

The Week in a Nutshell

Most of this past week was dark, dreary and wet. I was thankful for the beautiful walk on Saturday and my time with my friend Gail on Sunday. I'm coming to realize I might need a better plan to get me through the coming long winter as I am prone to feeling depressed on dark, cold, lonely evenings. Last year I had the pottery studio, and although I still have my shelf at the moment, I am seriously considering turning in my key and saving the $75 each month. At the very least I could save it toward taking a future class. I haven't spent any real time there since March.

On Tuesday evening I spent a few hours making pies with my daughter Bethany. Today is her 35th birthday. Tomorrow she is throwing a "Halfway to 70" birthday party with apple pie for dessert. We have encouraged her in this endeavor. She needs a good stress reliever and nothing relieves stress better than the love of friends and family. (Please pray for baby Henry as he is scheduled for surgery on December 1. We'd all appreciate your prayers for a successful operation and speedy healing for this sweet child.)

This afternoon after work Hannah, Idris and I went for a walk around the block. Twice. Tonight my people and I went down to the lake for an evening picnic. Hannah and Sergio bought subs and I met them down at the lake. It was an absolutely gorgeous day! Just like summer, aside from the autumn colors. No jackets needed. We opted to take advantage of this rare opportunity as tomorrow is forecast to be about 35 degrees colder. It was a beautiful evening.

Tomorrow and Sunday both come with birthday parties. I wish I could say I am already prepared, but the truth is I am not. I have some work to do tomorrow if I am to arrive at Number Seven's Sixth birthday party with a present. Pretty sure I can be successful. At least I hope so...
 

Number Fourteen

We planned it weeks ago and had a rather long list of guests. Should we cancel or wait and see how things panned out? We waited, and as we did guests began to cancel for a variety of reasons. In the end it was mainly family. Just two friends came.

He is due mid April but can make his way into the world as soon as his mom has two negative Group B Strep tests. Or before too. That would be fine. He's already a hefty chap and we don't want him putting on too much more bulk. (Prayers to that end would be greatly appreciated.)

We decorated. We made sandwiches. We frosted cupcakes. We cleaned. We filled a basket with freshly laundered, rolled washcloths for drying hands in the bathroom. I hugged my girls. We had a baby shower and now the distancing begins.

School has been canceled but the daycare is still in business. Perhaps I will find my days shortened. Maybe we will close too. No one knows what to expect. Only time will unfold the story.

Be safe and well, my friends. Spring is near and the sun will still shine. Soon the leaves and flowers will appear, and a baby will make his way into the world. God still reigns and He is still in control even when the world is not sure what to do. And He is good.

Bethany Day

It was a beautiful day to drive south toward Ithaca, NY and the Finger Lakes Pottery Tour. I did not take a ton of pictures and we did not stop to gaze at waterfalls this time, but Bethany and I did have a very nice day together, and we did find her childhood pal Hannah Graeper Carver who smiled when she saw us and gave each of us a hug. (Visit her page and take a look around.)

We were treated to a glaze trailing demonstration which was really cool. I'd like to try it sometime and was given some good tips. Beth and I each bought a piece of pottery. I am amassing my collection slowly. I have a total of four pieces now, and maybe I'll add another piece or two this summer. I figure it I'm going to be a fan of any potter in particular, I'm choosing her. Her pottery is beautiful.

Beth and I visited a second location on the tour as well. A potter from the studio in Rochester had some of her work displayed there. Very nice, and very expensive. I admired it, but didn't buy anything. We had lunch in Ithaca, saw some white deer behind the fence at the old Seneca Army Depot along the way home, and stopped for an ice cream cone supper at Yia Yia's on our way through Williamson.

No Headache! Yeah!!!

Today my headache is gone. I had a smallish one early in the day, but I am very thankful to say it has disappeared. It was a rough week. In spite of going home 6 hours early on Tuesday, I did manage to collect 38 1/2 hours of actual working time, and I am grateful for that too. I won't need to collect vacation pay to make up for any lost time.

I was talking with my boss at the end of the day. She mentioned how she didn't think one of our coworkers would last very long, and I replied that when I started they probably didn't think I was going to last very long either. I said I'd started the job fried. Ha ha! But it's true. I'd sat with my friend Gail for close to two years, was going through one of life's most trying times, and was totally used up. In my first couple weeks on the job, I worked eleven days in a row. It's no wonder I didn't last in the toddler room, even though they are some of my most favorite people in the world.

So now it's the weekend. And Mother's Day to boot. I have plans to spend the day with my daughter tomorrow. We're going back to the Finger Lakes Pottery Tour. I don't get many Bethany Days so I'm looking forward to this one. And just maybe another piece of Hannah Graeper Carver's pottery for my meager collection.

The Clothesline Art Festival

Saturday was busy. It wasn't until I sat down a few hours into the afternoon that a Facebook post reminded me of the Clothesline Art Festival in the city of Rochester.It wasn't written specifically to me, but it could have been.

"I’m in Rochester, NY today at the Memorial Art Gallery Clothesline Festival . Booth number 634, 10am- 5pm Saturday and Sunday. Stop by and say hello!"

I'd been just down the bock an hour or two earlier and now my daughter's kindergarten BFF was letting Facebook know she was in town with her pottery...

We didn't make it back to Rochester on Saturday, but we did find our way up there on Sunday afternoon. It was a good outing for the two of us. We meandered through the Memorial Art Gallery grounds and checked out the booths as we made our way toward Hannah's.

Childhood friendships leave such sweet memories. I am blessed once again to watch this daughter reconnect with this special long ago friend. Of course, we each took home a bit of pottery, "for a kindergarten discount". Bethany bought a lidded dish, to keep her butter in, and I chose a little ring dish. I'm starting my collection slowly.
:0)

A Date With My Daughter

Last Sunday after church I found a note in my Facebook messages. It was a personal invitation to the First Annual Finger Lakes Pottery Tour near Ithaca, NY. It was relatively short notice on a busy kind of weekend, but I didn't have any plans for Saturday. After thinking about it for a few days, I shot my eldest daughter a message of my own. I sent a copy of the invite while admitting that she was probably already busy... I was pleasantly surprised when she accepted my offer of a day trip.

Trumansburg is about  2 hours away. We'd hoped for a bright sunny day for our outing, but we got a gray and dreary day instead. On top of that it was cold and we hadn't bothered to wear warm jackets. Refusing to allow rain and chills to dampen our spirits, we determined to enjoy our day together. And we did. Thoroughly.

We found our potter friend dressed for the weather and smiling. Although she'd sent the invitation, she was still surprised to see us there. Once upon a time, more than 20 years ago, she was my daughter's best friend. Not only were they friends as little girls, but they share the exact same birthday. It was so fun to witness their reunion.

We mulled over the pottery, mostly hers, and each of us chose a mug as a treasure to take home. We planned to buy one for each other, but Hannah had a different plan. "I'd like to gift them to you," she said. We were speechless for a second, but in the end we accepted her kind offer, and then picked out something else to buy ourselves.

It was a beautiful day in spite of the weather. Not only did Bethany reconnect with her old friend, but I saw two of my friends from the pottery studio, and we stopped to look at a waterfall or two before heading back through "Barn Heaven" toward home.

I hope we can go back again one day this summer when the weather is warm and sunny so we can meander about some more. 

Kids and the Puppy

We had visitors last night, three more grandchildren and their sweet mama. Grandpa set some rules and let the dog out of her crate to play. "Lay down on the floor," he told them, "and put your face down on your arms." The dog went crazy, running circles around them, hopping across their backs, and stuffing her nose into their faces and under their necks. Giggles erupted from the boys which just made the dog run faster.

Jilly was a little overwhelmed and kept her distance, especially after the puppy jumped up and nearly knocked her over, but Jakie decided to become a puppy himself. He grabbed Nassa's stuffed dog with his teeth, like little boys will do, and had a good old fashioned game of Tug O'War with her while his  mother said, "Jake! Get that out of your mouth!" Yeah. Good luck with that. The game was just too fun to give up. Ha ha!

It was a nice evening. We ate ham, broccoli, and cheese soup, which the boys declared "delicious," munched on soft, crusty bread, and doled out lavish amounts of love and affection. When it was all said and done the little dog was more than ready for a nap.

Pie Making Day!

I really should open a bakery, even if it's a seasonal adventure.

Beth and Adam came over with the kids this afternoon and after eating lunch together, Beth and I set up baking in the kitchen. We put together six apple pies, a far cry from our record of 18 six years ago, but an accomplishment none the less.

I love apple pie, but I've learned through the years that apple pie packs on the pounds, so I'm trying to go easy on my pie consumption. I ate a tiny piece of the pointed end and a small spoonful of ice cream. It was scrumptious!

Tomorrow I will pack up my extra pies and make a few special deliveries. I'm pretty sure I can find them all a home.

She's Here!

Happy Birthday, Baby!
9# 1 oz and beautiful!
:0)

A Surprise Shower

We surprised Bethany with a baby shower at her house on Sunday afternoon. Those daughters in law of mine are great schemers. Beth had no clue as to our plans.

Sabrina and Michele did a wonderful job of planning, decorating, and delegating. Flowers graced the tables and filled miniature bird cages. There were fancy, pink flower cupcakes, fruit salad, bruschetta, slices of French bread with egg salad, and raspberry lemonades in mason jars. We played only one game of scrambled baby items, and everyone left with a sample sized bottle of lotion or soap.

After opening the first gift and spying something pink, Bethany turned suddenly emotional and looked as though she might cry. I think she had all but given up on her dream of having a little girl. She  pulled herself together and held back the tears this time.Almost all of us brought something cute for the new little princess to wear, and there were a few fun items thrown in the mix too. Now I can hardly wait until the next shower! :0)

I was blessed to have all of my most favorite girls in attendance, even though Ben and Morgan are no longer a couple. She's been with us for over a year and a half and I was blessed to have her there.

Splishin' and a Splashin"

One last shebang! (Don't think I believe that for a second.)

My sweet daughter called yesterday morning to see if her family might come over for dinner last night. I asked James what she was bringing for supper... :0)  Since we'd had a reduced  number of guests on Christmas Day, I'd made just one lasagna and still had most of the ingredients for a second. We decided to make it a small party (just 10 of us this time) and send out an invite or two.

We sat cozy-style with all of us around the dining room table, jostling elbows, each getting in other's space. Bethany brought salad and we cut up the loaf of Italian bread James picked up earlier in the day. I stirred up a boxed gingerbread mix and we topped it with whipped cream for dessert. It was perfect, even if I had intended to start the year gluten-free. (I'm starting over again today...)

After the presents had been presented, we decided to play the new Apples to Apples game James bought Hannah. It's a kid's Disney version that he thought she could play sometime with the kids at Sergio's house. We had seven adults playing along with Josh who happened to notice the box said it was for ages 7+. He did a good job and was quite pleased to play, especially when he chose Grandpa's answer (money) when it was his turn to be the judge for the word "useful." He got a high-five from Grandpa, and Grandpa got an award-winning smile from Josh.

The Christmas gatherings are now over and we are on to gatherings of another kind. My Daring is hoping for a Star Wars weekend and Joe is turning 27 on Sunday, so we'll see how it goes.

Twenty-nine

Happy 29th to my beautiful daughter!

Once upon a time we were a family of four; a mommy and a daddy and two little boys, and then God surprised us with a new baby girl. She filled our house with girly screams and girly toys and clothes. She brought her own special ray of sunshine and her own brand of torment to especially one of her two brothers. She wiggled her way into our hearts and our lives would never be the same.

Happy Birthday, Bethany!

B is for Because

B is for because. Because of your encouragement, I shall continue to play the game.

Because we have an abund- ance of zucchini, we have been baking Bethany Ann's Not-So-Famous Zucchini Custard Pies. (Bethany is my daughter.) This pie is really just a fun twist on a regular custard pie. Simply add a cup or so of shredded zucchini to the custard mix and sprinkle with either nutmeg or cinnamon before baking. It is a sweet and mild dessert that actually feels like it might be good for you, and my husband likes it! (Don't let it sit around too long unless you know how to keep the crust from sogging up. Truthfully, this shouldn't be a problem unless you live alone, and maybe not even then...) This is a very moist, but most delicious pie.

PS. The ant traps we set out this past week appear to have worked. No more little crawly things in the cat food. Yes!

 For more ABC Wednesday posts, click here.

My Birthday Girl

Today is my daughter's birthday. Those of you who know Bethany, know just how special she is. Her smile lights up the room. I thought I wasn't going to get a chance to see her today, but God saw fit to put her in my path this morning. I was able to give her a birthday hug and kiss, and snuggle that baby of hers for just a few minutes, and that's pretty awesome.

On Saturday evening we will celebrate two birthdays with special desserts, presents, songs, and fellowship. Bethany has requested a pumpkin pie (which I will provide) and Josh, who is turning 5 on the 29th, has put in his order for birthday cake. I'm pretty sure there will be ice cream around too.

Bethany, what a blessed year it has been! There have been some rough patches along the way for both of us, but those times have a way of making the everyday blessings all the more special. In your arms each day is the best birthday gift a mom could ever hope for, the gift of new life. It is a happy day indeed!

I love you!

Moving Toward the Goal

Grandmas and Grandpas are finally able to hold the baby. Let me tell you, there is something really special about that.

On our way into the hospital yesterday afternoon, we ran into Adam's parents and brother coming out. I'm thinking they looked much more relaxed than they had the previous time we saw them. "He's a normal baby today." his grandpa said, and he was right. The little guy had far fewer tubes and wires, and what he did have were all gathered into one bunch sneaking up through the bottom of the blanket to his tummy. (No, I did not unwrap him to have a peek.)

We are blessed to see little Jake on his way to a full recovery. It will still be another long week in the hospital, and his mom and dad are already tired. Prayerfully, a meal schedule will fill up, friends will offer rides, and a gift card or two for coffee at Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks will miraculously appear. Josh is coming to play with Uncle Jim and Aunt Michele for a while before they fly back to Minnesota, and Hannah will spend the night tonight so she can be at the house with him tomorrow. Somehow it will all work out.

Hannah, bless her heart, took pictures for us at the hospital yesterday. Aunts and uncles have not yet been given the okay to hold the little guy, but she is in love all over again anyway. I can see it in her eyes. Maybe next time she goes to visit we will be able to take a picture of her holding him too.

We are blessed by every move of progress.