The Last couple months...

Over the last couple of months I have been struggling to find my footing as a wife. Kind of like a new wife...With not having work outside the house and Don going to school...it's been different!
At the end of May we headed to South Dakota with Mom meeting up with Samantha, Stephen and Jennifer! Mom, Don and I drove out and the others flew...I was under the understanding that I wouldn't have to drive or co-pilot which didn't turn out that way...Don got sick on the trip...the longer we were gone the sicker he got (poor guy...this was one of his dream trips). On our way through South Dakota to Rapid City we stopped at the Corn Place. It was an amazing place with all the art made out of corns (of many colors), wheat, barley, and such... Then we went on to Rapid City. We got to see Mount Rushmore (we went on a bus tour which took us on an amazing sights), Crazy Horse (totally worth the time to visit), and Wall Drug.

Since we got back from there I have been helping Jeff and Ronna out with the boys. Which keeps me busy with trying to keep new ideas on how to entertain them! With that and helping packing up thing left at my Grandma's house up so she can sell her house...it keeps me on my toes.

July 4th we went to my brother Jeff's in southern Indiana. He loves having EVERYONE come for the weekend and relax. Well...I'm not sure HE or Linda relax the whole weekend...being they are great hosts. But it's a great time to just go and hang out with everyone!

Now Don has finished up his summer classes. Hopefully he will be in the nursing program starting in January. He finally got the calling at church his is excited about. He is teaching the 11 year old boys...and that also makes him their scout leader. He LOVES working with the young men at church.

As for me...Between Babysitting the boys, packing boxes at Grandma's house...I have found a few hours to help out a friend who is a teacher...she has readers that need to be printed off before the end of the month...so we have put in LOTS of time printing and reprinting things to get them done. At Church I work back in primary as the chorister (so I work with 3 to 12 year olds). It's hard for me to come up with ideas to make music fun for the kids at times...I'm not sure that it's the greatest callings for me but I'm trying to work with it!

Well that is our lives right now...I'll try to update sooner than 4 months from now! Have a Great weekend! I'll try to update with more pictures from the past few months!

Chasing My Tail...

Since I posted last...My "job" has changed. Yes I'm still unemployed but I have become my Grandmother's shadow.

My Grandma has been taking physical therapy for her lower back and leg. So twice a week we go do that. Then...

My aunt and uncle came to visit with my Grandma...while they were here they went around looking at assisted living places. On Monday March 8th...Grandma called me to let me know she was going to move...when I asked when this was her response "In the morning...the moving people will be here at 8am." All I could say was WOW!!!

Tuesday we moved her in and bless her heart she took it like a trooper. She knew she needed to do this move, and let it happen in the fastest way. Tuesday night she got up to go potty in the night and "kicked" her dresser (at 2am--yes that is important to know). I got a phone call Wednesday at 8:30am that she needed to go to Redimed. We got xrays and everything...and YES she broke a toe (the first bone she broke in her 89 years of life). We have tons of doctors to see between regular doctors, specialist, and physical therapy.

Oh yes...I forgot to say Wednesday when we were at Redimed...some dang 9 year old coughed on me and has thrown a big wrench in my life. By Thursday night I had temps up to 104 and trying to keep my Grandmother well, AND to all her appointments. So during the day I would work with her and afternoons/evenings I would sleep. Now after a week of meds and sleeping TONS...I think I'm almost over this monster!

I have to say that at times it's hard to see my Grandmother so needy...but blessed that I can be there to help her out. It's my job to keep all her appointment straight and get her to them. Plus taking care of things at her house that she still has. I'm there almost everyday making sure everything is okay there. It's strange going into her house where she has lived all my life and seeing some of her stuff there and seeing things that have NEVER been moved...be gone.

At times (like today) I walk in and look for things that she has sent me in for and remember silly things of growing up and being in that house. Like hiding from Stephen in a closet...it just is hard to see the changes...but glad its a slow one!

Thanks for reading...I'll try to upload pictures I have taken the last few weeks.

Missing my Grandpa!!!

Today would have been my Grandfather's 89th birthday. Since his passing in May it has been a struggle for me. But since I have moved back to Indiana it's been better because I have my Grandmother to help. But since October (Her 89th Birthday) she seems to need us more. (For me that is okay because it helps me feel useful.

Mom and Annette have been scanning old pictures and I got to show Don some of the old ones of my grandparents...the pictures that show my Grandfather the way I remember him. He was a nice looking tallish, railroader. And since Don and I have gotten married his health had been failing. So the only man my husband knew was the shell of the man that I knew. Although my grandfather had strokes and heart problems we were blessed with him having his memories and mind to keep a good conversation going. Sometimes he struggled getting with getting his voice to keep up with his thoughts...and his body couldn't keep up with what I'm sure he wanted to do. But I have great respect for my grandparents.

It still hurts my heart that I didn't get to say my goodbyes to him before his passing. At times I wonder if he really knew that I loved him...I don't remember if I said it the last time I talked to him...Will I ever get past that???

"Christmas Present"

For Christmas 2009 I didn't know what to get my brother (Stephen) and his wife (Jennifer). They are those family members that have EVERYTHING...and trying to figure out what to get them is a hard thing...especially since Don and I don't have lots of money. So when I called them to ask what they wanted the worse answer came "we just want your love". For heaven sakes where do you buy that and if you can how much is that going to cost me??? So I worried for days and days and came up with a thought ... I'll give them certificates (I made them 2) to have dinner made at their house or ours. I figured that was a lame gift but with a talk with my sister (Samantha)...she reassured me that would be a GREAT gift. So that is what they got....and they asked to use one of those certificates. So they drove down to have dinner with us. I used my friend Lori's french bread recipe, my mom's red cake with boiled icing recipe (changed up the color of icing), and had some boneless pork chops...and other things...but it's always great to have family over and eat good food! I am happy to report Stephen and Jennifer did not leave hungry! Here are a few pictures of food for you to enjoy!

My Life

I am bad at blogging anymore...not sure why...maybe because my life isn't much to blog about! But my new goal is to post something each month. That way I can see the progress happening in my life!!!

I'm out of work---like most Americans. Finding a job isn't easy. So I get to stay home, and babysit when needed. Which is great for me on one hand but maybe I should just find a crap shop and go do hair. Really most shops I have talked to are either not interested in me because I don't have clients or they are just full. I don't want to go to Great Clips or shops like that. If you are in shops like that they are more worried about getting that client out in a short amount of time and not about good hair. I want to do hair and I want to be able to do it on my terms. SO--the waiting game is on. Or I would work in a beauty supply store...still waiting on a job opening there too!

Don is working hard on school. He is trying to make the nursing program next January. Praying that he can get in and work hard---our hope is that he gets his nursing done quickly so we can move on with our lives. He is such a great sport with going back to school!

With being shut in most of the time and Don doing school...he has decided that in October he wants to WALK a 5k. I'm going to be helping him get ready for this...but we will see if I am up to doing it with him. (But if any of you would like to do it...please let us know...babysitting will be provided.) He is a trooper with his goals lately...he decided that he wouldn't drink anymore soda so January 1st he stopped drinking them and has done VERY well. So I know that once he decides something for sure he will stick with it! (I only gave up caffeine---and works most days but when a migraine headache comes on I need to have something!)

I just got a laptop from Don this week and I am enjoying it! Once I get everything on here that I need I will be able to do my calling at church (Primary Choristers) and when Don needs it for classes he has it to go! So I think it will help us do all of our work better. As for my calling in church...I'm not sure about it...I don't know that I do good working in Primary, but since I wont teach class back there---I got this. I'm sure I'll learn something from it but I'm not sure what can be learned in that calling!

Well that is all that is going on in our world! I promise to post more often and Have better things to share! Have a great week!