You and Your Neighbor Thursday

[Harriet]

"In all that you do in all of your life
I wish you the strength and the grace
to make those choices which will allow
YOU AND YOUR NEIGHBOR
to become the best of whoever you are."
- Fred Rogers

A homemaker lives life as a positive influence, and that doesn't just extend to the household. We've all appreciated someone whose home and family were positive for our neighborhoods. Who quietly took on the responsibility that fell to them, with strength. Who graciously aided, never hindered.

Now that we can so easily touch so many more people through technology every day, there are even more choices to make to be sure we - and our neighbors - are not hindered from being the best of whoever we are.

How does your own grace and strength positively affect those beyond your door?

[helia]

Lovely theme for the day, Harriet, one in which I believe strongly. Though I'm an introvert, I feel it is important to be part of a community beyond my immediate family, and I am part of several such communities, some larger, some smaller. I can bless others with grace through these groups, such as our church's moms group, our Thursday dinner gatherings here, small group. Then, there are opportunities when friends come over to our house, including the girls' friends. Friends S and R always eat with us Sunday evenings - as well as Thursdays.

One thing I'm weak on is reaching out to the neighbors in the neighborhood; it is just not the culture here. Not many kids where we are; there are more teens a few blocks away. Plus, houses are on .5 - 1 acre so are somewhat far apart, which is something I also like about this neighborhood, though it does decrease neighborliness. . . .

I must say, many of you bless me with your grace and strength right here. Thank you!

Speaking of the moms group, I need to leave in about 45 minutes. I wanted to stop by to ask Kathryn and other Canadians for recommendations for restaurants and things to see in Toronto. We'll basically have this evening and tomorrow to play tourists. I may pick up a tour book as well, and I'm sure the hotel will have info.

Have a great day, ladies! I'll likely pop in btwn. moms group and the taxi pick up.

[OKay]

Good Morning!

Our internet has been down more than it has been up lately. I really like the husband/wife owners and they are very responsive, so I'm putting up with more hassle than I would otherwise. There has been at least 1/2 dozen phone calls to/from them in the last 12 hours. As a small busy owner, I know what it is like to go through times of equipment failure. It is exhausting because you work non-stop to get it back up and operational. The customers griping doesn't help. So I'm not griping......but I admit that I want too!

RE: Friendship with family members X's. Yes, we can remain friends but it isn't the same. We don't celebrate holidays together anymore, attend events together, etc. I guess it is more like the X's go from being family to being acquaintances. If there was abuse or something extreme to end the relationship, I would be definitely side with my sibling and not want to be associated with their X......but that isn't the case here. They are both wonderful people. The X is now on the "outside" and I DON'T LIKE being in the "group" that excludes anyone.

today I take DMom to heart doctor office for ultrasound.

I'd better get my act together! *POOF*

[Harriet]

When the phone rings so early in the morning, you kinda know something is wrong. DcousinMary's dmother97, my uncle's widow, passed away at 3 this morning. Hers was a long struggle with Alzheimer's. She was the strong, born-organized aunt who was such a right arm to so many people, including my grandmother. Hers was the last home in my family to get an indoor bathroom, but the neatest and cleanest at all times, beautifully decorated. She was the oldest living member of our church and had 8 siblings, one of national prominence in the great American sport. Mary's only living brother and wife had just gone on a night's trip to the mountains (they switch care between the two) so he wasn't there with her, as he faithfully is. I know she is exhausted. I'll try to get my day lined up so that I can take them a basket of paper kitchen goods sometime today.

So, I will think errand day for later and plan directions

pick up basket and paper goods - Tarjay?
vitamin store same parking lot
an exchange at mall across the road
zigzag to errand between there and aunt's
on to the doorstep at aunt's home

that's a good tentative plan so far

Next up,
so need to check to see what's needed from vitamin store. I already have the exchange in the bag with receipt. A call confirming ddad's appt tomorrow just came in so I know that's definite on tomorrow's poda, and HRH is already aware of it.
Outdoor chores still need to be done.

[Nancy]

{{{Harriet}}} I did not know about CEO's new book thanks for letting us know.

I talked with a neighbor yesterday his dad who lived next door to us for years the cranky one died Mon. night. According to the nurse at the home he was not of sound mind. The son said he had changed his will last week. Things are in such a mess the son cannot bury his dad.

46*-75*
H. just left for work.
I'm up coffee is done.
Take A.m. meds. x
Check movies x None to see this week that we are interested in.

Got home at dusk last night from mowing at the church and the chickens had already gone to their roosts. Today I got up before the chickens did.
I was up a bit later than usual watched a new show. Slept well and I'm a bit surprised that I'm up to see the lovely sunrise today.

Granny duty in a bit.
I need to get the sheets washed as laundry card is up.
So glad I spiffed up the kitchen last night.

[BookSaver]

Harriet ~ I'm so sorry for the loss of your dear Aunt. Alzheimer's is such a nightmare disease. It's wonderful that you have good memories of her as a younger woman. (((Harriet & family)))

[OKay]

((((Harriet and family)))) I'm sorry for your loss. You are such a blessing to your family by immediately pitching in and helping.

Back from school run. It is sooo easy now! LO is becoming more confident everyday and it tickles me to watch him interact with his friends and teachers.. I stopped by the school office and gave them a copy of yesterday's doctor receipt so the time LO missed from school will be excused. The office was busy with several having red eyes. Hugs were shared as the small town community grieves together for the loss of loved one (yesterdays tragic accident). Her family has lived in this area for several generations so she was known by everyone. She was only 48 years old.

I'm going to stop and go outside for awhile. I need to mentally/emotionally regroup. Being outdoors while praying helps getting me centered faster than anyway I know. BBL

[ellyphant]

Harriet--Beautiful opening today. Sorry for the loss of your aunt. Sounds like she was a wonderful lady.

Good morning dear ones! After being away for 10 days, I may not ever cuop. But I did read enough to say that I, too, shave legs in the upward direction!

My trip was good. No problems driving the 10 hours each way. Saw gorgeous color in Western MD on the way and then saw snow there on the way back! MT, those open spaces did appear for me in the traffic. Saw the traffic prayer you posted.

Lucylee--I watched Nashville last night and enjoyed it, also!

About neighborliness, I had good conversation with one of DD's neighbors while I was there. DD had previously said about her, "We don't talk". I think they will talk now that the ice is broken. Hope she and DD will become friends.

Managed to buy 2 Christmas gifts while I was away. Happy about that.
Still dealing with mail that DH piled up for me while I was gone. Back to it...

[DeeClutter]

Arrrggghhh -I will NEVER learn! Just lost a longish post because I forgot to shut off my built in mouse/cursor. I was glad it seems to come on by itself on Monday night -I forgot to take my mouse to church council with me.

Think I was screeching at 5a.m. this morning when I stepped on the scales. Crossed over into that 160's range. First time in a long time.

Thinking about you and your loss today, dHarriet.

I never awoke until 7:44 and very slowly got moving. Felt rather punky at first, the realized it'd been about 16 hours since I last ate. Ate early because we were going to a meeting at church about a mission trip to the lower 9th ward of New Orleans in February. DH and DD are planning to go -possibly gd14. I figure it's almost as far from our FL residence to there as it is to FL from here. Dh says not. I hope he's right. I was thinking I'd have to plan to pack clothes from here for him to wear there -but I'm re-thinking that and may just get him some new jeans, etc. Probably will take 2-3 shirts from here and a sweatshirt at least. But maybe not. DD & DSIL have a shirt printing business on the side and perhaps she can make t-shirts for them. I can hardly believe she's going to try to take time off from school for this. But good for her!

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

(((Harriet))) It must be difficult to see that generation dying off. A relief for the care givers and a chance for cousins to reconnect but still very bittersweet.

Lucylee My response is too late but had it been me, I would have made the test REALLY hard and then made it an open book test. That will reduce the opportunity to cheat in front of a sub. I'm assuming all phones, etc, are left on the teacher's desk during tests so one couldn't google Cliffs Notes for the book. That way the test is done in a timely manner and you make the best use of the period when you have a sub.

I'm up and at it but slow, slow, moving today. Didn't work out at all. My back is sore, probably from reintroducing my back exercises (they help with lower back but at first bother my shoulder area.)

Dh finished his writing (trying to get it done is why we were late leaving yesterday) and is now at the musician's house, trying to teach her to play the tambourine. For such a gifted musician, she lacks the ability to follow rhythm when someone else is playing. I can't do it either, but I'm not a gifted musician.

I've made the bed this morning, s2s, started a load of laundry (which has buzzed) and had breakfast. Oh, and cleaned my bathroom.

Next challenge: hang up the load of laundry to dry. It is a nice day out, so I'll hang it outside so it will dry faster. These are clothes dh will need for his trip.