Sunday PWYC

[Twins' Mom]

I did a very quick CUOP for today only - I am home from trip to see dd and dd's camp. I was a VIP as a synagogue leader. Incredible time, and I'm ready for a nap now! I did have a relaxing trip home.

Happy Anniversary Helia & DH! I did some a camping photo on Facebook recently!

[Sunny]

Happy Anniversary to Helia and Dh!

I've been reading the last few days, but didn't post either. Weekly routine was done on Thurs. and Fri. I've just finished vacuuming carpet and quick pick up in a few rooms. Talked to ds#2 a little while ago and their dfamily will be here for supper today.

Wednesday we mailed a small box to dgkids in VA -- dgd15 was afraid their suitcase would be too heavy and didn't want to take their blankets and pillows. I also found a few pieces of clothing left behind, which I washed. Dgs had made a gem tree and wanted it sent also. Yesterday we went to T arget for a gift card for dgd15's birthday. I had the card signed and addressed, added the g.c. and dropped it at the post office on the way home. She will be 16 on the 29th....oh - tomorrow!

I have seen different ways of doing things here regarding funerals. I think it depends on the family and the church. When my ddad passed away I remember family bringing food to us. What a sad situation for OKay's community. ((OKay)), I'm so glad that you were there for the mother! You have a good heart!

((Harriet)), that is a lot of people for a church community to lose in a short period of time. In our community some denominations are growing while others are declining. There are always a lot of people moving out or moving into our county. It's the new people we must reach out to and some churches are doing that, some are not!

Helia, it's nice to hear you and dfam are home safe and you had such a nice time.

Supper is on and I have a lol to fold and put away.

[OKay]

Feeling sad but resolved. Sometimes I think Tough Love is harder on the person giving it out than the one receiving it.

DGS18 just called and asked to move in with us (along with his pregnant girlfriend and her 3 year old boy).

Neither one of them are working. Neither one of them are looking for work. Neither one of them are interested in looking for work. DGS18 has had 3 jobs found for him where all he had to do was show up and the job was his. He was a no-show at all 3 opportunities.

Sorry fella. Tough Love says NO....the 4 of you can not move in with us. Nana & Papa love you dearly but we think it is time for you to grow up.

[Ivy]

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MR. & MRS. HELIA!

DH got home from up North at Dson/Dsil's house. When he walked in, upstairs to the main living space, the 2-year-old untied Gpa's shoes and the other 4-year-old grandson unhook Gpa's belt buckle! So Dson pulled open 4-year-old grandson's pants and said, "You don't do that to people! How do YOU like being unsnapped?"

I've got sheets doing a Biz soak, will dry and we'll make it. I dumped the trash from all over the house, washed the 3 toilets, and put towels to wash into the utility room. I might not get to the towels today, but the bathrooms, trash, and our bed are a big job. I'm tired, sore, achy today, and am trying to write by hand on stories.

It's still cloudy here, it's 63.1* here, and it's nearly 1 p.m. and not one cloud's burned off. So it may be a cloudy day for us. Occasionally, about 5 p.m., the clouds burn off though. So they might be coming.

Have a great afternoon and early evening, Everyone!

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Harriet's comment about welcoming newcomers is interesting. When we moved here 23 years ago, we were welcomed by the church (we moved into a 5 year old subdivision.) The next summer there were two funerals in one week (Grant's wife died and then before her funeral, his brother died and the second funeral was 3 days later.) I was asked to help prepare and serve the luncheon for both even though I didn't know anyone involved (Grant had not been to church since I had been attending because his wife was too feeble to be left alone.)

One of my friends asked why I would do that. I replied, "It's country and that's what people do here so I'm doing it." Looking back, I'm sure my participation that week had a lot to do with our acceptance as part of the church. I was trying to fit in and they appreciated it. At the same time, I was invited to help out, something that may not happen in just any church but made me feel part of the church even if I didn't know anyone who was at the luncheon except for a few of the people in the kitchen.

My two services went well but the first was a bit short (they didn't have an anthem and their announcements were short, unlike the 10 minutes ours often run.) Got a lot of positive feedback. I've preached there 6-8 times now so it really feels like a third church home. The retirement home service was 'packed' (actually more than I had in the big church in the morning) and it went well too. A group of us went downstairs for tea and cookies after and sat around chatting. I can't get over how many 90+ year olds there are. I met 5 of them today (and those are just ones who shared how old they are with me.)

Ds wasn't home when we got back so I'm assuming he got to work on time. I had put a timer outside his bedroom door just in case he slept through his timer. It was back on the stove when we got home so he at least noticed it.

I need to start prepping for next week's service now. Another 2 services and I can't reuse my sermon from 3 years ago (as I've been doing for the past 2 weeks) because I'm back in my home church and they heard it already. From this point on, I have to write a new sermon each week except for September 1 when I using a packaged service put out by the national church.

[Lilac]

Okay, I know it is hard but you had no choice but to use Tough Love. If you would have caved, it would have been harder the next time. This way they know you mean business. I had wondered if this was the same girlfriend who had a child. I will be keeping all of you in prayer.

[Ivy]

DH and I put freshly laundered sheets on the bed. We're washing a large load of towels in Biz soak now. I stripped the place mats off the table, put them on the eating bar, DH washed them and the table, and dried the table off. He put everything back. I'm having shoulders acting up today so can't do a lot more. I did a mirror, outside of 1 toilets, inside of 3 toilets, lugged the sheets to the laundry room and this all takes shoulder/arm power. I think it's time to start doing my PT shoulder exercises once again, to strengthen them up.

DH is on and off watching Mariner's baseball, then turns on music, and goes plays on XBOX in our bedroom. I'm writing down Dec. short story titles to plot out early, so it's done. I'd love to get things in early before the New Year starts, so I'm able to perhaps take some time off. Have cute titles, but with the Australia market, am wondering if I should save back for them, too, some stories. They have 2 now. I'll think it over.

It's so nice to slowly get our house back in order after 2 teenagers from the 20th - today/28th. It's awfully quiet. The cat lays in the pathways, like she's knowing no boy is coming to walk over her and disturb her. It's as though she's saying, "This is MY house and I'VE got it BACK!"

Tomorrow, we're up at 7:30 a.m. again, so DH and his friend can get firewood again, M-W-F, which will give me focused writing time. It'll be nice. He'll go grocery shopping on Tues., I might go, or might not. I enjoy the home front, but need to balance and get out, too. I work from home, so when DH is gone, I concentrate on working. So I often times find myself home too much. I'll plan an errand day sometime this next week. Don't know where or what, but something.

[Nancy]

Happy Anniversary to Helia and Dh!

Back from town lunch is over time to get to another couple rounds of things here need attn. in side and out. More later ... I got some elastic while we were over town so glad I finally remembered it; so I've put that in three of the things that needed it from my sewing adventures from last week. Yea for completing this!

[Lynlee]

Happy Anniversary Mr and Mrs Helia

Interesting about the churches. And funeral / bereavement traditions.
I'd not know what to do if anyone asked me to make a pasta salad, let alone for 75 - but I'm guessing there are ways of dealing out the jobs to people able to do them....
Here there is mostly a "reception" somewhere after the funeral. Visitations are mostly separate, for family only, though I've been to a couple of funerals that started with an open casket in a corner of the church, or at the funeral chapel . The reception may be in a home, at the church/chapel , or at a hired venue. Sandwiches, biscuits(cookies), scones(biscuits), a cake are usual fare.

I need to move. Monday morning. fracture clinic today so I need get up the street to the bus stop.

[BookSaver]

Hello, villagers ~
We are back from a wonderful birthday picnic for DMom's 85th. Her day isn't until next month, but this was the day that the most family could come. Even at that, we were missing a niece and her family because she had to work today, and another nephew also had to work.

As a wonderful surprise, though, older DSis's DS drove over from Wyoming (12 hours straight through) just for this party. We very rarely get to see him because he's in the Air Force. He's been stationed in Italy, is out west now, and wants to go back to Europe to do more traveling.

It was also fun to talk to a girl cousin my age whom I haven't seen in a couple of years.

DMom said it was her favorite kind of party. She didn't want to rent a hall and have everyone she knows come at once. She loved being in the park with family on a beautiful day, and a simple picnic with sandwiches and salads and birthday cake.

Off to cuop ....