SHEs Organized

Please feel free to edit and provide a theme for today. I'm clueless and don't want to stop and think about it.

Lady M Your opening is just fine. It reminds me of church where people are worried about hosting coffee hour because they don't understand that putting on the coffee and tea, bringing juice and milk/cream is all that is required. There are leftover desserts in the freezer if you don't feel like baking and don't have time to pick up a box of cookies from the general store.

It doesn't matter how the village is opened, the important thing is that we have a place for community sharing.

Speaking of sharing... (((Lucylee))) for the conversation with her mom last night! Sorry but I had to laugh!

I'm up. I've gone over the sale flyers and made up a grocery list for the week. I'm still not doing meal plans but maybe by December I'll have the routine back. The flyers I need for price matching and the list are on my purse. I had my tea and chocolate while I did that. Put away clean dishes while making the tea.

I've decided not to swim today. I wanted to (mainly for the shower after) but just couldn't get myself moving. I'm worried I won't have enough steps to day either but need to rest for now. I feel like my body is under attack by something.

Didn't have enough sleep so will take care of myself today. It will be a long day.

Next up: breakfast.

Yesterday went like a dream. Not perfectly but nothing short of a miracle in the relationship with DD. DGD3 was excited to come home with us and "talked" non-stop for 3 hours before falling asleep. When I took her out of the car seat she put her arms around my neck and snuggled close. She immediately went to back to sleep when I laid her down in bed.

DD sent a laundry basket full of DGD3 things. This morning I sorted through the basket - putting things into stacks - coats, blankets, stuffed animals, pants, shirts, socks, dresses, underwear, shoes/boots, etc. I made sets of clothes and put them into gallon size baggies so they will be easier to grab. DGD3 is potty trained but still has accidents so taking extra clothes with us everywhere is necessary.

This morning we will attend church. I think this will be DGD3 first time attending a church - I know it will be her first time going to a cowboy church. Not sure what she will think of it but most kids love it because of the animals and space to run free.

DD's DGD3 talking is improving. She is making most all the sounds now (instead of just EEeeee) She attempts to repeat everything DSon's DGD3 says. Since she is repeating the words it is fairly easy to know what she is saying. However, when she tries to tell something on her own it is a struggle for anyone besides her to understand what she is trying to say - even for those who are used to her sounds.

Breakfast will be raisin bread, sausage patties and cheesy scrambled eggs. I best be getting started on it .

For the yarn meeting here I just have coffee and tea some times if I am in the mood in he 1-3 or 2-4 time slot no food needed.

OMM Thinking of a weavers tea it is good to keep that in mind. I have projects for weaving I am trying to plan weft colors for. Others warp for can ot locate what I want even on line so changing what I wanted.

Did not get to the thrift shop yesterday of even look at the craft dept. Bc I ran out of steam. Oh well I have time.

It is a good thing I did not ake deviled eggs h. Has orders for the eggs at work.

Do you know where I could get ideas for shoe box stuff for jail ministry? You gotta love google look what I found.What we Need:
Toothpaste (travel size)
Socks (all white)
5x7" Notepads
Small Game Booklets
Christian Book (paperback)
Bags of Snacks (small)
Bibles
Testimonies (for a booklet)

Back to daily nap time. LO quit taking naps when school started this year and my effort to take a daily nap has been mostly unsuccessful. However, DGD3 needs a nap so we are adding nap time to the daily schedule this week. Thankfully, she goes to sleep easily. After sleeping for 3 hours this afternoon I woke her up. However, after I carried her into the living room she immediately fell back asleep. Her bedtime is in 2 hours so she Needs to wake up so she will be ready to sleep. LOL This sounds like something that happens in the hospital when they wake you up to give a sleeping pill. Kinda crazy.

While DGD3 was napping, I pulled another load of things out of the cabinets to take to the Birthday House. I am selecting items that won't be used in the next week. This process is helping me decide where to place things in the BH. It will also be helpful to have less to move when we officially take possession of the BH.

Quiet day today here. I think (I THINK) I'm about through packing. I was getting quite cranky toward the end of this. Trying to downsize some and not forget things. Think I'm as anxious about 'getting there' as anything. And then there's the whole "I'm going to be on WATER" thing. At this point I'm wishing it was just dh and dd going. Now that would be an interesting pair. Few things I just could not find at the end and dh and dd were trying to keep me calm. Fat chance. Trying to decide whether to take a pair of sandals.

Guess I'll go fix something for dinner. I have 1/2 my dinner left from last night -steak pieces & 1/2 a baked sweet potatoes. And then I have 6 boneless wings left from Thursday night and some Gen Pso chicken from Wed. Put that last one in the freezer. Think I'll freeze the steak and mushrooms too and go for the potato and boneless wings.

LOL... so glad you got a laugh from my conversation w/dmom, Kathryn]! When I post late at night like that, I'm sometimes not sure anyone even reads it, so I was glad to hear I contributed a bit of humor to your day... Seriously, I do hope dmom won't embarrass us all w/all her rambling conversation, AND her list of her aches and pains, when and if she ever does have a gentleman caller again... but seeing that the gentleman has not even called yet, this is NOT something I am obsessing about.

I hope he DOES call, b/c I think dmom could use the little ego boost that would give her. She actually said once to me, that it kinda concerned her b/c no one (of the male persuasion, I mean) HAD called her and it had now been going on 18 months since ddad passed away. She said she didn't really WANT to start "dating," but she would enjoy having dinner with someone sometimes, and she (I think) was mostly concerned that she had really lost her looks or something. I told her the reason no one calls is b/c she is such a hermit. I said if she would get out there and get consistent with her church attendance and the activities with the senior citizens group at church, she'd probably have several gentlemen callers.
Dmom, unlike Scarlett O'Hara, really WAS (is) a beautiful woman, when she "has her pride up," as she puts it. As I've told y'all, she was a majorette in high school, she is tall and slim, and she has kinda a natural graying/brunette hair color and brown eyes. Her skin is still clear and unwrinkled, and she probably looks at least ten years younger than her 69 years.
BUT... oh my... as she repeatedly (REPEATEDLY!) discusses w/me and all her lady friends, I imagine, she desperately needs some type of surgery or other procedure done for her back, her bladder, her other foot, her teeth, and she has to get her eyes checked. Plus she has to deal with this chronic stomach condition (IBS? Chron's) which is a MAJOR problem for her.

It would not bother me in the least to add a gentleman caller to our little family circle, btw... to be quite honest, I could use some help, you know, diverting the attention... * sheesh *

Oh well. And anyway, I guess dmom is definitely not the only approaching 70-year-old lady who likes to discuss her physical difficulties. The dfriend she spoke of yesterday has quite a list as well, and in the course of my conversation I found out that dfriend and her husband have not had "marital relations" in ten years (b/c of dfriend's physical limitations.) As I said last night, discussing s e x with my dmom is very awkward and uncomfortable for me.

ANYWAY -- CHANGE OF TOPIC --
I am doing the Happy Dance all over this house for dLadyM and the wonderful start to the week w/dgd!!! Oh my goodness, this is such wonderful news!!! I was praying for you Saturday, when dgs was (finally) napping with me in the recliner and the house was so quiet, and I thought about you in the midst of your trip to your dson's, and I just prayed and hoped so much for a good outcome. Sounds like it is going better than anyone could have dreamed!
And btw -- her speech sounds a lot like dgs, who will be 29 months old Wed. He tries to repeat EVERYTHING now (remember how I worried so much about that?) but just as you said, when he initiates the "conversation," it can be extremely puzzling. When I say, "Show me," and let him lead me to whatever he is asking for/telling me about, usually I can figure it out.
For example, "heart cracker" -- yesterday I was sooo confused about what he was saying, b/c usually it's just "cracker" and I understand. When he added "heart" to it, I was completely lost. So I said, "Show me," and he led me right to the cabinet where the crackers are. He was saying "heart," b/c these are those pretzel crackers that are shaped sorta like hearts. The last box I had were pita chips, which he announced were triangles. Friday, I had told him the triangles were all gone, and we had these heart shaped crackers now. He's very good with identifying his shapes, letters, and numbers -- but pronunciation still leaves a lot to be desired.

Harriet, nice to hear that young people your dson's age appreciate good music.
And WTG on your deviled eggs. I definitely understand your obsession over what to take, etc. I generally avoid church meals for that reason, and dh's reluctance to go anyway.
My contribution to Thanksgiving dinner is to be my cookies and Wmart's deli broccoli salad, per dcousin's instructions. Dmom was very happy to hear that the turkey AND the ham were both being take care of by my aunts, and dmom's contribution will be her special sour cream mashed potatoes, and macaroni and cheese.

Those are GREAT ideas for the shoebox ministry, Nancy! Those would be perfect gifts for men or women.

(((Helia))) for grading papers... oh how well I remember... It is sooo hard to grade essays/paragraphs/etc. Teachers who deal with more objective assignments just cannot understand.
Last night, I dreamed I was supposed to go back to school and teach "one more year" -- for dcousin's senior year. And in my dream, I was so upset -- I kept thinking, but I TOLD them 2013 was my last year... was it supposed to be 2015? But that's not right... and why am I not there now for Cousin A, but I have to go back NEXT year for Cousin B? I was really concerned, and even when I woke up, it took me a minute to realize it was all a dream. LOL... yep... I remember, I was so concerned about retiring...

Speaking of my cousins, A&B are looking for 70s-style clothing. They are going with their football team tomorrow to be extras in a movie that is being filmed in big city in our state. Dcousin just came by to get leisure suits from dh. I hope they fit -- football coach told them if they did not dress in period clothing they could not go.

(((Dee))) (((BIG HUGS))) You KNOW I can relate to your anxiety about this. I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time. Just hang in there till you set sail! (((BIG HUGS)))

After sleeping completely past church time (I refused to set the alarm, b/c that would have made my second night of approx 4 hours sleep!) AND taking a nap after lunch, I have finally made good use of my evening. I am s2s and ready to go see Mockingjay whenever dh gets ready.
I have also
* s/s both bathrooms
* s/s kitchen
* written two checks
* taken allergy shots
* emptied bathroom trash
* watered plants

Oh, and I'm drinking water, Harriet!

What a quiet day in the village!

LadyM: when our dfs came to us for the testing weekend (to see if we were compatible) he slept the whole weekend. He was probably only awake for about 8 hours over the 2 days and one evening. Sure teenage boys need a lot of sleep but it was also a 'safe place' and his body to the chance to grab from rest when he didn't have to be on guard all the time. Perhaps that is part of dgd3's excess sleeping. Or perhaps she's super shy, like I was. I used to sleep away my visits with relatives because I was too scared to spend time with them.

I'm home now.

It has been a long, tiring, day. Church went well although dh and I weren't sure we were in the right spot. We got there at 18 minutes before the hour and were the first there. We still have keys so unlocked the door and went up to the sanctuary. I opened the front door and then looked for the bulletin to set up the numbers. No bulletins. It is now 13 minutes to the hour and we are looking for the announcements from the week before to see if we've missed a joint service. Dh checks his calendar and there's not note about a joint service. Then another couple arrives. I check the mail box for the bulletins. Nope. I buy internet for my phone and am trying to download the bulletin (all emails to the church come to me as well) but before I can do so, the minister walks in. That makes 5 of us. We put up the hymn numbers for him.

By 11:02 there are 18 people and by 11:11 the service finally starts with 23 people (including 9 children.) The number of people is what we've been getting this fall, but this late arriving is starting to drive me crazy.

During coffee hour the children set up and decorated the tree (it looks great!) and after everyone left, I had my lunch and then worked on the sanctuary. Didn't turn out well at all. We need fir garlands, not tinsel. I might have some but I'm not sure if I kept them or left them. I remember telling the new owners I'd leave them for her if ds didn't want them. He took the tree but I'm not sure about the garlands.

I need to bring an extension cord as well for next week since I'm blocking a path I use with the lights.

After finishing up, I started down the narrow stairs to the basement but my foot caught and my body's momentum carried me out over the stairwell. My arms kept me from falling down (I never step onto a stairwell heading down, or even up, without holding onto something, but I wrenched my shoulder and I suspended over the stairwell, hanging on until I could untangle my legs and pull them down under my body. My shoulders are sore but manageable but one leg probably is bruised in a weird spot so I'm guessing it was bent at a strange angle to have hit my shin there. Walking is a bit sore.

I picked up a Dr. Pepper from the general store and took advil and then we headed to the sister church where I set up chairs and tables. I figured walking it off was the best thing to do.

Then it was time to help lead the hymn sing before the covenanting service and I ended up holding a very heavy 9 month old (her daddy was playing with dh.) She was a riot, she never cried but she stared intently at me the whole time.

Service was lovely. It was a Presbytery service (as opposed to being run by our church) but I had a role as a presbyter. And I took photos for the minister. It was interesting for me to have my Presbytery 'church family' come visit my home church family. It felt like the in-laws coming to visit! Dh had a chance to meet more of my Presbytery friends at the social time after.

We did some grocery shopping on the way home and then heated up pizza. We were to go out for dinner but were just too tired.

I need to get on the treadmill now and add to my steps for the day. I was short some yesterday and I can't be short too many days or I won't meet my monthly goal.