A Few January Days.....

Thursday dawned cold and windy so it was nice to stay sandwiched in bed between the warm flannel sheets and pull up the poufy comforter instead of going out to the gazebo for my Quiet Time.

Louis Dean and I are reading the Chronological Bible together - although we go at our own pace and are not trying to finish it in a year. We started it back last spring after reading through the Old Testament.

The main part of my Quiet Time is being alone with God.

Every morning I spend at least 10 minutes being still. Not thinking or praying or anything.

Just.....

After that, I move on to praise and prayers, checking in on others and writing notes.

I have saved the fronts of cards that I have received plus those that Lillian had and am using them as notecards. I love reusing things and re-reading the cards sent to me over this last and difficult year.

I went back and read some of the last messages my sister Nita sent me yesterday.

I felt pain and joy at the same time.

I suppose right after the holidays it's normal to feel a little let down and my thoughts have been on Nita the last few days.

It was 8 years ago when I decided to write my memoir and 7 years ago when I was well into my first chapter - which I later had to completely rewrite.

Never did I dream that Nita wouldn't be here when I finish my book.

Nita, Deanie and Lonnie have always been my cheerleaders and they think I can do anything.

That's because I am their big sister, I guess.

That first year  (2015) we would get together with cousins and each other and talk about the past.

Openly for the first time with everyone.

Nita and Lonnie and Deanie could remember things I had forgotten and some things I have simply blocked out. All three encouraged me to write.

Deanie drove me to all the places we had lived from 1953 to 1963 and we did lots of research as one remembered thing would lead to another.

At long last - we had a time line of our childhood instead of just a bunch of jumbled memories.

I believe it has brought some measure of healing to all four of us.

I hope so.

Every year I pray it will be the year I can finally say, "It's done."

I just wish I had tried harder to finish it before Nita left.

Although I started Thursday inside, we went out to the gazebo that evening to have our glass of wine.

Louis Dean bundled up and was such a good sport even though he hates being COLD!

Summer came over on Thursday and spent the night and I didn't get a single photo of her!

I worked some more on my painting while she was doing some computer work.

I stopped before I messed him up but then worked on him again Friday and I DID mess him up so now I must 'fix' him once he's dried.

I should have left well enough alone!

Louis Dean is keeping himself busy as he always does.

He's staying out of trouble - mostly.

This is the window of his music room and it faces the driveway.

That's tomatoes he's growing and those strings that are holding them up are the cords to his window shade. His room is so unique that I can't even describe it!!

Friday we arrived at the Bells before the kids got home from school.

Amber and Mike were going out to celebrate Mike's birthday and we were staying over there with the kids for Friday Night Pizza/Popcorn/Movie!

Louis Dean was in the breakfast area and I was in the kitchen with Amber when they all came in.

Kailey walked in and saw me first and then held up one finger to me - like wait just a minute!

Then she went past me to Granddad and hugged him and talked to him for a minute and THEN walked back over to me! I tease her about it but we both know Granddad holds a very special place in her heart just as his holds one for her.

I just love to look at Trystan and Logan and see their sweet faces and beautiful eyes!

Harrison is growing into a fine young man now and it squeezes my heart!

We had the very best Friday night!

Amber always selects a great movie and one that we ALL would enjoy - including Granddad!

Summer came over as well so it was really just like a party!

Devotion - it was excellent!

Trystan, Kailey, Harrison and Logan are all four such independent and responsible kids - far beyond their 10 years of age! They knew the routine and one by one they went up to take their shower  before the evening got underway. While they did that, Summer, Granddad and I watched an early episode of Blue Bloods. 

13 seasons so far and it was fun to go back and watch some of this first one!

Amber had ordered four huge Domino pizzas and they were delivered right at 7:00.

The kids can serve themselves, pour their own Cokes and they have all the ins and outs of Friday Night down pat! At precisely half way through the movie, Harrison stopped it and the girls made the popcorn.

Another round of Cokes and we settled down to watch the rest.

After the movie, a couple of the kids went upstairs to bed while a couple of them hung out with us and we watched some Funny Animal Videos that were hilarious!

It was a great evening!

Pam picked me up today (Saturday) and we went to Euless to watch the girls play hockey.

Pam meant it to be a surprise but I didn't know that so last night I asked Amber, "Guess who is picking me up to go to the hockey game?" and before she could answer, Harrison called out, "PAM!"

I didn't even know he was paying any attention to what we were saying!

They do love her - all of them.

She treats them like real people and talks TO them not DOWN to them.

Kids notice things like that.

Pam wore her 'mental' cap!

Isn't she cute?

It was a good game and a close one but they WON!!!

And Kailey made a goal!

Pam brought me back home and I have spent the rest of the afternoon and evening doing art, planning a baby quilt and filling over a dozen empty bobbins with thread in prep for some quilt making.

I love having them all ready to use so I can change them out without having to fill a bobbin.

I can sew a lot of quilts now!

Although my supply of cut squares is running low and when we go to the ranch, I'm going to take my electric scissors and a cutting board to whack up a bunch!

Louis Dean and I went up to see June today.

She has been in the hospital for a couple of weeks and they moved her this morning to a nursing home right in our neighborhood for rehab. She is very weak and needs to get her strength back.

Still amazing at 91!

Tomorrow I am going to bake a pistachio crack cake but use small loaf pans and muffin tins so I can share some with the workers there.

It has been well over a year since I had been in a nursing home.

Louis Dean is going to take his guitar and play some music for her.

I will need to make a map on how to get to her room because today we walked the entire facility before finding it and then it took us a long time to find our way out!

We actually ended up in the memory care unit and a very sweet lady had to walk us out as we were then locked IN! She told us lots of funny stories on the way and we laughed and laughed.

I will be sure and take her some crack cakes tomorrow!

Wonder if I can leave them at the nurses station or if I need to go BACK to the memory ward??

This should be fun!