A Week At Home

This is the first week in a long time that I have been home all week (except for going to Dad's Tues. afternoon). I have rested a lot. I have worked on my house every day and gotten some things organized and cleaned. I love being home, but if I am home too many days in a row, I start to feel bad. I get lazy and unmotivated. It has been a very rainy week, and that makes me drowsy and slow moving. 

The flu has been really bad in our town. School was closed a few days last week because so many were sick. I am so thankful Haley and Mason have not had it. Martha's grandson, Micah, had it and gave it to Jared and I think Kevin too. Plus Nathan and Leanna got it, of course, taking care of Micah. Martha was very careful and didn't get it....plus she took tamaflu.

This week the concern has been the weather. It has rained so much there is flooding in a lot of places. This morning when I got up, the field behind our house was full of water.

Can you see beyond the trees? The whole field is flooded. Also, water was rushing down the woods at the side of our house to the creek.

You can also see it is still pouring rain in the picture. The schools here let out today at 10:30AM, and the officials appoligized for even sending them in the first place. Several roads had to be closed. They also called off school for tommorrow. 

The next two days are supposed to be colder with less rain. Then the weekend is clear. But next week, there is more rain forecasted. I read that the national weather service has forecasted rainy weather for our area until May. 

I wanted to go pick up the grands and keep them this weekend, but they had plans. Haley got invited to a Birthday party. This is the second one she has been invited to at her new school. It makes me so happy for her. Her friend has a brother Mason's age so the mom said to bring Mason too. I really miss them but hopefully, I will see them soon.

Last weekend while Haley went to a birthday party, Nikki took Mason for a mom/son date. She sent me this pic.

Ahhh I love him so much!!! And Haley too!! They are my heart! 

In other news....here are some interesting things I saw on the internet. I follow a christian mom on instragram that told about an artist named Thomas Dambo that makes woodland people out of scrap wood and recycled materials. They are the coolest things!

You can see how tall this woodland lady is by the woman standing in the middle. 

A woodland creature playing with his toy (real) car. Isn't that so cool?

Even the hair is made of twigs or maybe tree limbs. The artist is from Denmark, but I think there is a park in Kentucky that has a few of his creatures. I would love to take my grands to see them.

I also saw this quote as I was scrolling and I thought there was/is a lot of truth to it.

We can either uplift our body and mind, or drag ourself into a pit. Sometimes when I am wasting time on the computer, I say to myself...is this beneficial to my future. And if it isn't, I know it is wasting my time. Although, there are times to relax and enjoy reading, just not when I have things I need to do. 

And finally, I snapped this pic of Cruzer watching Ryan the other night. 

He is laying on a heated blanket I got Ryan for Christmas. He loves it. He will sleep all day on it if I don't get him to move. He is getting old and needs to move his joints as much as I can get him to.

Ok, I am off to wash dishes. Tonight I fixed breakfast for supper. Last night I fixed parmesan cheese chicken for Mark, salmon cakes for Ryan, and mac n cheese/beans for me. I am trying to cut down on eating so much meat. Monday night I made potato soup, but I did put bacon pieces in it. Tuesday night I fixed Mark speghetti (Ryan and I don't care for it), and Ryan and I had sweet and sour stir fry with veggies. I will try to remember to post what I am fixing for supper. It may help me in the future.

Today I am thankful:

1. That we are getting rain and not snow. I would LOVE snow if we could all stay home.
2. That I only lack one load of laundry being all caught up. It feels wonderful. I washed extra sheets/comforters and even a load of dish cloths. I am always putting that off till another day.
3.  That my neighbors (Lara and her kids) made it back from visiting her family in New York.

Until next time....

Work and Family Time

I can hardly believe it has been almost a week since I last posted. It seemed like just a couple days ago. Last Wednesday, I cleaned Sandra and Wayne's house. It was Liz's day off and I got to see her. She is my youngest sister, Mary's, daughter, and she is such a sweetheart. Sometimes she is at work when I clean, and she will leave me a sweet note. This is one of them:

Both of Mary's girls are artistic, and Liz also plays the guitar and piano. I love all my neices and nephews so much. 

Thursday morning I worked the homeschool nursery. I love it! Those kids are so precious and say the cutest things. Eden, (my neighbor who is 3) brought a small stuffed elephant that day. Ava and Leah are her twin friends, who are 4. Well, Ava got the elephant and was pretending it was Dumbo (it really looked like him). Eden said, "hey that is my elephant." Becca is my helper and she is 16 yrs old. She is really good with the kids. She said, "Eden, don't you think you should share?" Eden let out the biggest roar (sometimes they play wolf and I guess she was the wolf). Ava ran to the corner and said, "she scared me." Becca said, "she scared me too." As Becca and I were talking, Eden ran to the pretend clothes and got the dragon costume. She brought it to me and asked me to help put it on her. So as I was helping her, Ava says, "she is going to scare me." I said,"oh nooo, she isn't going to scare you." Eden looked at me dead serious and said, " yes I am!" HAHAHA She was going to scare Ava into giving back the elephant. In just a few minutes they had forgotten about it and were the best of friends. Three and four year olds are awesome!

When school was over, I had to finish putting away the toys, spray the tables, clean the bathroom, empty the trash, and vacuum. We have to keep it clean for the other kids who use it. I finished and then went by the store for ingredients to fix dessert for a meal at Andrew and Nikki's the next night. Then I went to Sandra's to finished cleaning her house.

Friday I went to Andrew and Nikki's old house to clean. They had gotten almost everything out of it and left it unlocked. I worked and worked and it looked so good when I finished. It was sad to leave thinking about all the memories of that place. 

That evening Nikki cooked dinner for us. Mark came straight after work and got there around 6. He actually got there a little bit before me. He loves their new place as much as I do. We had a blast spending the evening with them. Nikki fixed the best chili and cornbread. Mark had me get the recipe because it was so, so good! I brought chocolate pie and Lemon Lush for dessert. 

We watched Inside Out. Well, we watched part of it and talked a lot too. I want to watch it again when the kids are here. I really liked what I did see of it. I think we left around 8:15. Mark came home the  back way and I came the interstate. I was home around 20 min before he got here. He said he went thru a heavy downpour. I just went thru sprinkles. 

Saturday I worked cleaning Ryan's acct at the surgery center. I took this after I had pulled out the bed's, mopped the floors, and put them back.

I can't explain how satisfying it is to get this big place (the pic is only a part of it) cleaned. It feels so good to have the health and strength to work hard. I think I worked seven hours. I was hobbling when I got home because my legs and back were aching, but I would rather be hurting from hard work than laying around. Not that I don't have lazy days (today was one). I just feel so much better when I work hard.

Saturday Nikki sent me pics of Haley's room and how awesome it looks. Andrew put together her loft bed, and she has so much more room.

Do you see that teal bench at the bottom of Haley's bed. Lola, their boxer, can't stand it that she can't get on Haley's bed with her. So she sits on that bench and rares her head back and makes a wooo wooo noise at Haley. haha This is the view from Haley's bed.

Her eyebrows look crunched like she doesn't understand. She is the sweetest thing.

Next they have to work on Mason's room. His bed hasn't come in yet, but it should soon. 

Both of the kids are doing well in their new school. Mason said it is amazing which makes me very thankful. Haley said it is ok because she doesn't really care for school. But she already has a best friend and that makes me happy. 

Sunday I went to Wallace (huge church) with Ryan that morning and Highland that night. Today has been a lazy day. I washed sheets and a comforter and remade the bed. I also washed other clothes. I sat a lot and looked at instragram.  When I don't accomplish a lot during the day, at the end of the day I just feel blah. I could probably enjoy a lazy day if I didn't have to see all the things I needed to do that I didn't get done. Oh well, tomorrow is a new day. Hopefully, I will accomplish more.

Today I am thankful..

1. For naps to rest my body and mind.
2. That I didn't have to go anywhere. Yay!
3. That I had very little sugar today. That was a major                            accomplishment.  

Till next time...

Great *Grand* Weekend

Week before last I cleaned Sandra's house, Nana and Papaw's house, worked the homeschool nursery half a day, and kept Lara's kids half a day. That Friday I went to pick up my grands as they got out of school. Then I took them to my house for the weekend. 

It was such a great weekend with them. Saturday I took them to a birthday party of a friend's baby that we have known for years. Actually the mother of the baby worked with Nikki when Haley was a baby. I wish I had gotten a pic of that cute little darling playing and squishing his birthday cake. It was so cute. 

After we left the birthday party, we came back to my house and rode with Lara and her kids to the movies. We saw Spies in Disguise. It was so funny and enjoyable. The whole theater was laughing, and it was wonderful to hear the kids laugh. 

When we got back, it was time for supper, so the kids decided they would jump on the (neighbor's) trampoline after supper. Well, it poured down the rain. So, Haley and Mason had an idea to create a hang-out area in my unfinished downstairs. They moved boxes, canning jars, pool supplies, etc. to make an area for themselves.

They worked together to nail a blanket to the window until I buy a curtain. 

We put a clock on the post and Haley made a sign of rules.

1.  No shoes when sitting on the table.
2.  No fighting and keep your hands and feet to yourself.
3.  If you don't have anything nice to say, then don't talk.
4.  No picking nose or scratching butt and no farting.
5.  Have fun!

They played and played in the hang out area. There is also an old elliptical bike down there and they rode that thing a lot. They would be out of breath and still riding. They got so much exercise. They even rode it together too.

Most of the pics on this post are blurry, but I am having to take pics with them moving and far away. 

The next day (Sunday) was a pretty, sunny day. Yay! After church and lunch, they were able to be spend time with Ki, Noah, and Eden. They even spent time in the hangout eating healthy snacks and playing a game called Money Bags.

Then they decided they wanted to play in the woods. They have been working for a while on building a bridge over a hole or part of the drain running into the creek. I am really not sure. 
                       

Ki (at the top of that  /\ pic) is standing on several logs. That is the bridge. They worked hard gathering logs to make that bridge.

Ki is in the hole, Mason and Haley are standing beside it, and Noah is squating at the bottom. I love that Haley and Mason have these friends.

They even skated a while at Noah and Ki's house.

I took these pics with my phone thru the blinds. Ha! They are across the street at Lara's house. Her driveway is more level than mine.  

Sunday afternoon around 4:30, I took them home. We saw such a beautiful sunset on the way. Mason took the pic. (his fingerprints are on the car window)

Of course you can't tell how beautiful it was. It was amazing.

The following week I worked cleaning my house and working at the homeschool nursery. Friday (1/17) I went to Andrew and Nikki's house to help them pack to move to a house they just bought. They hired movers to take the heavy stuff (which was a lot), but we had to pack and move the rest. Andrew and Nikki had rented their old house several years and had lots of wonderful memories there. But when the owner of the property decide to build a couple of houses in their side yard (like right in their door), they started looking for another place.

The right side of the house still has plenty of yard, but the left side is too close. I am so thankful they are moving.

I love, love, love their new house and the area. The house is in a subdivision, but the area around it for miles is farmland. It is sooo beautiful. Andrew and Nikki have an acre lot which is so much bigger than the city lot. They also have a fenced area in the back yard to let out the dogs. There is a wooded area behind the fence. Here are some pics I copied from the listing. The front pic of the house didn't load, but it is a split foyer with an open kitchen/living room area.

This is the back covered deck.

And this is the back yard.

There is also a large bonus room downstairs that has Andrew's man cave on one side and a Nana or GiGi bedroom on the other side. There is a bathroom right beside the bedroom. It is so awesome.

I stayed overnight Friday night. but I slept with Mason because the downstairs didn't have the heat on. Saturday, Haley spent with a friend and Mason and I made three trips to the old house, loaded my car to the brim, and took to the new house. Nikki would unpack, and we would head back for another load. Andrew had to work that day, but picked up a load in his truck later. Mason was so tired at the end of the day and so was I. And Nikki had painted the week before, so she was tired and sore. But it was all worth it.

Saturday night I came home. Sunday I went to church twice and napped/rested. Monday I did laundry, gave Cruzer a good trim and bath, and went to my Dad's. Today (Tuesday) I headed back to Andrew and Nikki's. I was going to clean the old house and help finish moving the little stuff. This is all we had to move beside some things in the garage.

Well, they had turned off the power to the old house, so Andrew and Nikki couldn't use their garage door openers. They didn't know where they put their door key, because they had used the garage door openers. So, I ended up coming back home because we couldn't get into the old house. 

This afternoon when I got home, I took a nap. I have accompished nothing today. I fixed chicken casserole the other day and took one to Andrew and Nikki's. I froze the other one and cooked it for Mark and Ryan's supper. So, today was an easy day. Tomorrow, Lord willing, I am supposed to clean Sandra's house. 

Today I am thankful for:

1. Safe travels.

2. A beautiful home and place for my kids to live.

3. Sunshine

Until next time...

Part Time Jobs

I have started a new part time job. It is cleaning a surgery center and the surgery center's doctor's office. It is actually Ryan's job, but when he can't be there (and sometimes on the weekend), he has trained me to clean.

I love this job. I don't know why because it is really hard, exhausting work, but I love it. It is easier than cleaning a house. For instance, I have to mop big, wide areas, but all I do is spray down the mopping solution, and mop with a big, wide flat mop. Everything is done quickly, but it is a big place to clean. On a weekend when it has to be more detailed cleaning, it takes me around 6 hrs. On a week night it takes around 3.

This is the building where I clean.

I work on the first and second floor on the right. I clean a couple of surgery rooms like this one.

It is so interesting to see all the equipment, etc. I don't clean anything that may be used on a patient. I am sure they have employees that do that. They have another room where they sterilize everything.

I also move out the beds in this area and mop the floors.

The only thing I hate about this job is taking out the trash. I don't mind the work part of it. Most of it is medical tubes, shots, etc. I just tie the top together, put it in a cart, and take it to the dumpster (always wearing gloves, of course).

Taking it to the dumpster is the part I don't like. The container is in a brick enclosure with wooden doors.

I have to pull up that metal bar on the door until it is out of the hole in the ground. Then I open the door. This is the area around the container.

 You can see it is plenty big enough for someone to hide and attack me when I start to throw out the trash. ugh! The other night when I went to throw out the trash, one of the metal bars was out of the hole, and the door was ajar. As I was throwing the bags in, (I have to go to the side of it) a light clicked on. I quickly as I could threw the rest in. I was so scared. I couldn't tell if the light was behind the dumpster or in it...I was in and out so fast. Before I finished, the light clicked off. So, I hurriedly shut the door and put the bar back in the hole. The sides are really high, so someone would have had to really climb to get out of there. I still don't know what it was. That has never happened to Ryan and he has worked there off and on a few years. My sister Sandra had a great idea. She said take a flashlight and look around before you empty the trash. So, I did that Saturday night and was so relieved. The area is light outside the dumpster area, but it is deserted. The dumpster is on the right of the stop sign in the second pic. The first pic is the other side of the parking lot of my building. There are two buildings.

I know God takes care of me, and I believe He always will. 

The other part time job I have started is babysitting for my neighbors. I had lived beside Lara and her family for around four years (I think) and had never talked to them. I am a very quiet, shy person. I knew the couple that lived between us, and those two were friends also. But I had never talked with Lara. Our friend that lived between us died of breast cancer last November (I think). And still I quietly kept to myself. Anyway, last summer I was working outside and the dog of the neighbor on the other side of me got out of the fence. The dog went to Lara's house and she took it back to their door. She and I got to talking, and I found out she was a christian. Yay!! She had been a nurse (for cancer patients I think), and now she was staying home and doing part time things so she could be with her kids. She has three kids and her husband is a school teacher. To make a long story short...we are now great friends. And sometimes I watch the kids when they need me to. I love the kids sooo much!! They now are friends with my grands, and I take them sometimes with us when we go places. It is a great blessing and joy to know them.

Lara homeschools her kids and takes them to one of the classical conversations schools in our area. They needed someone to watch the little ones of the mothers who helped teach the classes. Lara recommended me, and I got the job. I really love it. Those who know me know how much I love kids. I only work one day a week, so it isn't much.

So you can see I am really busy. I am still cleaning my sister, Sandra's house, and Nana and Papaw's house.  I am hoping that keeping active will help keep me healthy. I know our health is in God's hands, but we should do what we can to take good care of ourselves. I lack in a lot of areas for sure. 

On another note, Andrew took Nikki to the walk in clinic yesterday because she has been really sick. She has walking pneumonia. They gave her two shots, steroids, and an antibiotic. They are supposed to sign papers on a new house Jan 15, so this is a bad time for her to be sick. I am praying she will get better, and I plan to go stay a few days after they get the house. I hope Andrew and the kids don't get sick because I am missing my grands and I want to see them. 

Ok, I am getting off here to clean the kitchen. I am supposed to clean at Nana and Papaw's tomorrow.

Today I am thankful:

1.  For beautiful sunshine!!

2.  For a wonderful, spirit filled church service, and the encouragment to keep a close relationship with God.

3.  For the strength and health to work hard, and wisdom to rest on the sabath.

Until next time....

Christmas Holidays 2019

I had a very busy December. I have started several part time jobs that I will post about later, but they kept me very busy. I still have some wonderful memories to enjoy.

Mark and I went to a Christmas play put on by Haley and Mason's school. They were both in it. I went down early and picked them up after they got out of school. Mark came down later and surprised Haley. I told Mason it was a secret Papaw was coming and he didn't tell. Haley was so happy and surprised when he got there. She was a little nervous about performing. 

The play was The Nutcracker. Mason sang in the choir and Haley was a dancer. They had the play on the university campas right next to their school. It was still packed. We had to walk a couple of blocks to get there and we were early.

They both did so well. We had to sit near the back, but we could see our little darlings. I have never seen The Nutcracker, but I enjoyed the little skits. These pictures may not mean anything to anyone else, but it will spark my memory of how much we enjoyed it. 

Look how much taller Mason is than the other kids in his grade. He is the tall one on the top row.

That cute grin...he spotted us.

We were so happy because Mason sang and participated in all of it. The last time he had a school program, he just kinda stood there. He did awesome this time. I took a little video. I hope I can figure out how to upload it here later.

Haley did so good too.

We all loved watching them. Andrew was even able to be off work and see them. It was wonderful.

When we went outside to leave, the wind was blowing and it was so chilly. Andrew had worn shorts because it was warmer, and after he was freezing. I got a quick pic of them as they were hurrying to the car.

Nikki took a pic of us and the kids. 

Look at Mason. He is such a mess! I didn't even notice his face until later. Those are our babies, and we love them to the moon and back a million times. Even if they are stinkers.

That next weekend, Ryan and I went with Martha, Kevin, and Jared to a Christmas program at the church we attend. I usually go with Ryan there on Sunday mornings. Then I go to my church Sunday evening.

The play was so enjoyable. 

I snapped a quick pic when they had on the blue lights, so you can't tell much. I just posted it so I could remember it. 

Since Thanksgiving was so close to December, and I had to work the first week of December, I was a little later putting up my Christmas tree.

I had the hardest time with my tree this year. I am not crazy about LED lights. So, as I was putting my regular lights on the tree, they kept blowing fuses.  I finally had to take off the regular lights and buy LED lights for it. I wasn't as happy with them, but I made myself get over it. Ha! I enjoyed it anyway.

In December Ryan and I got a cold. We were able to keep going, but Mark got it the worst. He wasn't able to go to his mom and dads with us or to Andrew and Nikki's on Christmas day. Nikki was also sick and didn't feel well. She and I didn't take one pic the whole time. I was just enjoying the kids and seeing their happiness. I should have asked Ryan to take pics. We had a wonderful time tho. Nikki's mom was there. She has dementia, but did great the whole day. It was so warm outside and we all sat on the porch a little while Haley played with one of her toys. 

Ryan and I left around 6 (I think). It is great to drive on the interstate on Christmas Day because there is little traffic. I was so happy he was with me. It had been a wonderful day.

After Christmas I got a stomach bug. I woke with it the Monday after Christmas. I felt better that afternoon and got up and washed sheets and comforters. The next day I felt bad...and the day after that! Oh my word, this bug has stuck with me for days. I was supposed to get the kids, and then Ryan got it. I just wanted to cry. I was so very disappointed!! I haven't been able to keep them their whole Christmas break. Nikki didn't want me to keep them before Christmas because her mom was staying with them and the kids help keep an eye on her. Soooo I am hoping and praying I get them next weekend. I miss them even tho I saw them Christmas. 

On another note, we got a snow in December. 

It was beautiful on the trees and ground, but there was not much on the roads...just how I like it. We actually got our first snow in November. It was kinda like the one in December. Since Christmas we have gotten lots and lots of rain. I am so thankful it is not snow. I love snow, but when I have young loved ones (Ryan) driving in it, it worries me.

Ok I have to get off here and clean the kitchen. I don't know if I will blog any more this weekend because I plan to be very busy. 

Today I am thankful:

1. That tonight I am finally feeling better!

2. That I was able to take a nap and it helped me.

3. That I have a washer and dryer to use when we get sick!

Until next time....