My Family Celebrating a Winter Wonderland in Texas!

While Louis Dean have stayed safely inside - except for a few steps outside the kitchen doors to spread some bird seed on the ice - but I have enjoyed all the pics from Amber and her family as they embrace this special winter occasion in Texas.

Bauer wanted to see what it was like outside and decided he is NOT a fan!

I took Tabitha out but held onto her....not sure she was struggling in my arms to go inside or get loose!

Speaking of cats...

Can you spy one in this pic?

I hit the target on Harrison's Christmas gift.

He stayed warm and cozy while he enjoyed being out in the winter weather.

It's not surprising that as soon as there was enough ice on the street to skate a hockey puck - the Bell grands were all out there playing!

NOT enough ice to use their skates but they did what they could.

Mike and Amber....

I am so enormously proud of them and their marriage and commitment to parenthood and most of all....

their faith and walk in the Lord.

Best parents I've ever known!

And perfect life partners....

Mike broke out his four wheeler!

Such winter fun!

Not the norm for Texas!

Sledding anyone??

Why not??

Fun and games after the cold weather activities.

Meanwhile, down at the ranch......

It's beautiful but so cold.

Good thing the mops have heavy fur coats.

Part of me wishes I could BE there....

.....but it's best to be here at home.

Thank you, Dean, for these photos!

Next best thing to being there!

And thank you for taking care of our truck during these freezing situations.

In news from home - Louis Dean is sporting a good black eye from his fall on Friday night.

So very grateful that's all the damage he sustained.

This morning I woke up and thought, "It's warm and why don't we just stay in bed awhile?"

And so we did.

I made a brunch for us after we watched Fellowship church online.

A tortilla with a filling of eggs, veggies, cream, seasonings, cheese and I also crushed up some cheese crackers for a little crunch. Baked at 350 for 25 minutes and it was really good.

We have been watching football all afternoon and are still watching the Rams and Seahawks....

Sometimes it's a good thing to stop the world and get off for a day or two - or three or four.

Embracing Our Winter Weekend....

 What a busy week this has been!

First of all, I'd like to wish Mike a birthday that is as wonderful as he is!

Amber made this collage and it is so 'Mike!'

Next is a pic Amber sent me of Harrison's goal he scored to tie up the game.

One of the dads on the team took it.

While Mike was with Harrison, Amber had taken all of her three daughters to Florida for Trystan's tournament.

Amber + Mike = Best Hockey Parents EVER!

Back here at home....

I put a turkey in the oven on Sunday night...

and spent a good part of Monday making turkey and dressing....

company mashed potatoes....

and candied carrots.

Sometimes cooking is good therapy and it's always nice to make enough food to share.

Tuesday Treasures with Brenda!

I felt like it was safe to leave the house for a few hours as Louis Dean was totally absorbed in repairing a bird feeder. I checked on him multiple times using the RING app and knew he was okay.

I made sure he had taken his medicine and had eaten a good meal before I left.

I admit that thrifting is all about the thrill of the hunt - and spending some time with my best friend.

I have - literally - hundreds of coffee cups - and yet I bought this Pioneer Woman cup just because I could. And I have enjoyed sipping coffee from it for the last few days.

The fake ground cover will join a spot where I have a couple of other patches. You can't kill fake!

And I'm so grateful for that! The same goes for the fake plant.

At this point in my life, I do not want to water, feed, or care for anything but the ones who are important to me. As in Louis Dean. He is my highest priority.

I'm getting a glimmer of how I want to decorate for spring and the lemonade sign will fit right in.

I bought this table runner and packed it in with all my fall things.

By the time I open up the tub - I will have forgotten all about it and it will be a nice surprise.

I'm a sucker for pillows!

I bought this yardage not knowing what I will do with it.

BUT - I will find a purpose!

These brand new warmer slippers from Bloch were less than $5 with my discount and when I googled them when I got home, I found they cost $69!!!

I felt foolish for buying them but not so much now...

Brenda found this Soma PJ bottoms - and even if I didn't need them - I bought them anyway.

I left Texas Thrift and dropped off some things at Goodwill and then did a quick run in to see if there was a treasure waiting. I love these clip earrings and have worn them many times this week.

Also this lamp shade has an overlay of metal and I could not resist.

I simply replaced a worn out shade for this one.

I shopped Aldi on my way home and stocked up with everything we would need for this coming winter weekend!

Wednesday was Louis Dean's appointment with his neurologist and we always enjoy seeing Dr. Shahdad and her sweet assistant Shanna.

A selfie in the doctor's waiting room is a tradition.

I think we are some of her favorite patients as we always laugh and make them laugh, too.

As when I told her about seeing Louis Dean get matches from the kitchen on my RING while I was out with Brenda thrifting. I headed home immediately but he'd already discovered a bag of paper trash I had hidden and proceeded to dig a hole in the back yard and burned it.

By the time I got home the deed was done - so we put a couple of firelogs on the smouldering pile and I poured us each a glass of wine and we sat on the deck and watched night fall around us.

Lemons to lemonade.

It's important for Louis Dean to eat and he simply forgets!

How do you DO that??

Maybe I did back when I was young and skinny but it's not safe for him to not eat what with taking meds and his glasses of wine at night.

Thursday evening we went out and inspected all nine of our outdoor water faucets.

I had a stack of work pants given to me to make quilts from and we used them to double wrap all the faucets.

Our sweet Samantha!

What cat doesn't love a good box??

I look forward to watching movies here with Ilene and I was afraid if we didn't have a movie date on Thursday - it might not happen until next week.

Our movie of choice.

It's time consuming even FINDING a good movie to watch.

I would love it if any of you have suggestions....

The cold rain started on Friday and I decided to make firestarters from the sawdust Louis Dean saved when he cut up firewood for us earlier in the week.

He put the sawdust in a bucket...

and I melted candle wax that no longer worked.

You know when you burn a candle down and yet there's still a lot of good wax left?

I usually burn this on a candle warmer and add it to the candles where the wick is long instead of cutting the wick off. Waste not! Want not!!

I lined my cupcake pan with paper liners, added a big spoon of sawdust and maybe a piece of bark before pouring the melted wax over the top.

I found a metal can in Louis Dean's room when I was bagging up trash the other day.

He is a hoarder and it makes him happy to fold up packaging and wrap it around with tape.

It doesn't matter since I gather at least two to three black trash bags full every week.

It's his therapy and he has never missed anything I have thrown away.

As long as he is happy, I am okay with it!

These make great fire starters and Ilene joined us for another movie date on Friday since we knew we would be housebound from Saturday to maybe Tuesday.

We had leftovers from the fridge for dinner but fancy cocktails before with pepper poppers and cucumber salad for appetizers.

We struggled through finding a movie and settled on a BritBox program 'Bookish.'

Louis Dean had joined us for the last part of the program but when he got up to go to his room, he lost his balance and fell into the fire screen and bounced onto the floor.

Which was a blessing as he landed on the carpet instead of hitting the stones on the fireplace hearth.

He fell even though he had a cane.

He bloodied himself up a bit but no major damage.

I'm so grateful he did not hit his head!

Praise God that Ilene was here as she is such a calm presence and support.

God greatly blessed us with her friendship.

This morning we woke up to a winter wonderland.

Louis Dean felt fine but I did bring in a metal walker from the storage building just in case he needs it.

He has several canes and two of the 'quad' ones but I am ordering a few more so there's always one easily accessible.

It's been a peaceful day here...

I've spent the day organizing my earrings, routine housework

I've gone out a few times today just to enjoy the quiet of a winter day.

I close this journal entry tonight with a guilty confession.

When Louis Dean fell last night, it was an emotional moment for me in knowing how fast things can change. In the blink of an eye or the beat of a heart.

The thing is - I needed a day.

A day of peace and quiet and not having to 'deal' with things.

So....I needed some 'me' time and I gave Louis Dean a basket of pecans earlier this evening - knowing he fixates on shelling them and then picking the meats out.

I've been in the den all evening vacuuming, cleaning, keeping the fireplace going and watching BritBox programs....and writing this journal entry.

Next door neighbor Mark brought over a bag of salt and left it on our front porch yesterday.

This afternoon Stephanie dropped off a container of beef stew and rice for our supper tonight.

I'm about to close this entry and heat up the stew.

I'll collect Louis Dean and entice him to the den where I promised him I would put on the DVD of CATS.

Can you relate to this?

I do....

Children in the Closet....Chapter 35

 

Chapter 35

Stress can be deadly and it certainly effects normal living. At least it did for me. I was exercising and eating healthy, getting plenty of rest and yet I was tired to the bone and could hardly function. I was overwhelmed so I took a shower and went to bed to read. Books have always been an escape for me but even that didn’t work. I decided to get up and do something but I was so disoriented and could not concentrate on anything. I felt faint and out of breath and fell to the floor and decided to just stay there for a while. Amber came in and found me and I could tell she was worried which then made me worry since she was so distraught. Jesse was at church so she called Summer and when she came over, we all felt more comforted. 

I felt like it was stress and still recovering from the medical shock and being overwhelmed in general with all the changes taking place. I discerned in my spirit that there would never be a return to what passed as ‘normal’ for my family ever again and as scared as that made me – I also felt the nudge of thankfulness. Life was changing and for once I was changing at the same time.

The next day the family was still worried about me since I was no longer up and doing but staying in bed and being rather unresponsive to the normal demands of the day.

Jesse went out on the bedroom patio and rearranged things to make me a comfortable spot to sit and rest. He put a lounge chair by the door and a small table to hold a snack plate and glass of tea. I put on my robe on and took my book outside to enjoy the fresh May air and Jesse took Amber and Benjamin to their orthodontist appointments. I relaxed and came in and slipped back into bed for a nice long nap.

I realized just how overloaded I was and made the decision to give up the treasurer’s job for our homeschool group. This was a Friday and I made a good dinner of Sausage Skillet Dish – from the Name Brand Cook Book I had given Amber – and which she still uses to this very day! Summer joined us for dinner and the traditional Friday night movie, Coke and popcorn. Men of Honor was our featured film and I felt so comforted in my heart and soul that we could still have a pleasant Family Friday Night! Alas, for every bright spot or peaceful day, stress and drama and trauma seemed to reappear causing a continual yoyo of events with never fully relaxing in between.

The spring and summer slipped by with more swim meets and Hurricane Harbor days. We loved going to the water park and would stay from opening to closing a couple of times a week. It’s funny how much I love the smell of chlorine and pools but, in fact, I can’t swim. 

Our last swim meet of the year was US Junior’s in Hawaii in July and the team was practicing extra hard. As Team Mom, I made all the flight reservations, and booked our hotel rooms, rented a coach car and a van to transport the girls.

Mother was a support for both Amber and me and came to the pool party before we would leave the next day.  Mother, Summer, Jesse, Jr and Benjamin were there to cheer them on in their last practice. We were surprised her dad came as a last-minute decision.

Our bags were packed, plans made and it was time to go.   We left the next morning, July 13, for Honolulu where we would catch a commuter flight over to Kona. As usual, Jesse took offence at something and we parted on a stressful note. As the plane lifted into the air, I felt such relief that he and I would be apart for the next 16 days and nights.

The flights were all on time with no luggage lost and the team all rendezvoused in Kona with no mishaps. The only problem I had was another raging bladder infection. The doctor called in a prescription which I picked up and started the next day.

 I loved being a Team Mom and Maria was another mom who helped me. Together we had a great time with the girls. It was a long meet but once it was over, we moved to another hotel – this one more of a resort where the girls could swim and have a couple of beach days as well as do some sightseeing and shopping. The parents were all more than happy for the girls to stay a few extra days to really enjoy the island. Everyone left on the 25th except for Amber and me and we stayed another 4 days.

We had beach days and rested and enjoyed our time together. During our trip, I called Jesse several times but nearly always got a busy signal. Our Internet was the old dial up method so that meant he was on the computer. I was glad he remembered to pick us up as we arrived at 5:15 that Sunday morning. He took us to eat breakfast at IHOP and then Amber and I went right to bed. It was after 1:00 in the afternoon when I got up and looked for my dog, Ruffles. I couldn’t find her and her food and water bowls were both gone. I was hysterical and Jesse told me she had developed a tumor and he had her put to sleep just a few days after we had left for Hawaii. I was devastated. How does a healthy dog develop a tumor in a matter of 4 days and need to be put down? I was sick and had an awful headache from crying so much. I loved that dog and she loved me. I could not understand how she could have been put to sleep while I was gone?

 

The weeks went on and Amber was diagnosed with scoliosis and began treatment at the Scottish Rite Hospital in Dallas. She been in pain with her back for nearly a year and been under the care of a chiropractor with no significant improvement. Now we knew why.

I continued to have an awful bladder infection that just would not go away even on a second round of stronger antibiotics. Some things seem to go on forever.

We continued to be in stress mode at home and with my and Amber’s health and I continued to grieve for my dog. Even so, Jesse painted Amber’s room and spruced it all up with new blinds, curtains and spread. It took a few days but she loved it and things seemed to go a little bit smoother when Jesse had a project.

Life goes on day by day with doing the next right thing. I made reservations for Amber and me to fly up to Detroit on September 11th to the 16th for the Synchroized Swimmers Convention. It would be our very first time to attend.

Next was our family reunion in Stephenville. The kids lost interest in going with me a long time ago – and Jesse certainly didn’t want to go - so I drove over to Mother’s on Friday afternoon the 10th of August by myself and spent the night with her. We went over to visit Nita at their adorable house. It was Mike’s childhood home and they had completely updated and modernized it with a huge deck along the back. We all sat out there with snacks and homemade margaritas and visited for a couple of hours before going back to Mother’s and preparing food to take to the reunion.

We liked to go a day early and stay in a motel so we could visit with family members who had also driven in early. We sat around the pool and talked as other relatives arrived and joined us. Mother, Aunt Irene and I all stayed in one room and Lonnie and his son, Brian, stayed upstairs.

I played cards with cousins and it was all so relaxed with no tension or disharmony. I wished my life had more days like this one in it.

I was thinking about something Nita had said to me Friday night. Back in the spring we had occasion to all be together and she said she could see my walk, mannerisms and the way I stand and move in Amber. I couldn’t get this out of my mind. I know it’s in the genes but that’s not all there is. Our children become as we are and that concerned me. I didn’t want Amber to have the kind of life I’d had. I believed she was stronger and braver and better than I. But I wasn’t who I should have been. I knew that. I was fearful and scared and nervous. I didn’t laugh enough and I stayed in a cautious mode most of the time. I didn’t want this for her.

The reunion day was good and I was so glad Mother had encouraged me to go. I needed a few days of peace. Jesse called me just as I was leaving Mother’s. The church is having another big problem. He went on to church and I got home in time to prepare food as Jesse had invited quite a few people over after the service. Seemed like drama and trauma was back on the schedule!

We celebrated Benjamin’s birthday one day late – on the 12th of August.  He and a bunch of his friends and Amber all went to Main Event. We drove over and tailgated with pizza and Cokes at the back of the van. It was so much fun! They all had a ‘burping contest!’ After taking a big gulp of Coke – they would see who could burp the loudest! I was the judge and gave the score from 1 to 10. Guess who was the loudest at #9? Amber! The party went on until 1:00 in the morning and we brought them home and several slept over. Two teenagers now. Amber was 16 and Benjamin was 13.

September morn arrived and I was excited to get down the fall decorations and played September Morn by Neil Diamond. It’s a tradition. Alas, my cassette tape broke so I went out and bought a two-disk of Neil Diamond’s greatest hits on a CD. By the end of the day, the house was looking very fallish! I was thankful this was such a pleasant day with no turmoil. September first was my favorite day of the entire year and this was a good one.

It’s always something. Turns out we had a hot water slab leak in the living room. Jesse rented a chipping hammer and now there was a big hole in the floor. For the next few days Jesse kept digging and making the hole in the floor bigger and bigger. At night he would put a big sheet of plywood over it. He finally found the leak and – thankfully – he called a plumber! Jesse liked to do things himself – even when he didn’t know how! I was able to do a few loads of laundry and as I walked by the hole, I noticed suds down there. 

Turns out the plumber discovered all of our sewer lines had rotted out! All of them! The next week was a mess! We contacted the insurance company and everything was still up in the air. All the lines would have to be replaced and this time outside the perimeter of the house. Nothing would be underneath!

Nothing to do but wait for the insurance adjuster to come out. Amber and I packed our bags and set out our clothes for our flight out of DFW the next morning.

That was when the unthinkable happened. September 11th is a day no American will ever forget.

We are Home and I am in a Reflective Mood......

 We decided to leave earlier than planned due to the freezing temps scheduled to arrive on Saturday night.

Better to pack up and drive home with the temps in the 40's on Saturday afternoon rather than in the 20's on Sunday morning.

We left the ranch at 1:00 and stopped for lunch at Whataburger...

Our favorite!

We had a good few days in the country but since it was cold and getting colder - there's not much for Louis Dean to do in the way of projects.

Home on Saturday and enjoyed the fireplace in the den...

Today has been a rest and recovery day for both of us.

We ate the potato soup I made at the ranch and now I'm putting the turkey we brought back from the ranch in the oven! Using Deanna Rabe's recipe....

https://mrsrabe.blogspot.com/search?q=turkey

This is the only way I cook turkey now!

Tomorrow I will be making dressing and sides for a Thanksgiving style meal that will be enough to eat the next few days and to share with friends.

We are home and we are safe.

As good as it is to get away, it's just as good to come home.

Louis Dean doesn't do well away from his music room here.

It is his happy place and he can do pretty much whatever he wants to do in there.

Gorilla glue, duct tape, drills, and other sundry things.....

Life is changing for me.....and I admit I am struggling with things.

My primary purpose is taking care of Louis Dean and I am grateful to be able to do that.

That doesn't mean that I do not grieve a bit over what we used to do in taking care of others....

as in all those Fridays in Fort Worth to take Mother to the beauty shop and then lunch afterwards.

After Mother passsed, we still took care of Lillian and other residents at the nursing home.

After that, we were there for Reaoma and Louis Dean played the guitar and sang songs to her.

I loved her and I still miss her but I am thankful for Pamela -her daughter who is like a daughter to me now. God is good.

Then our dear friend June died. This was so hard as she was such a huge part of my life and that of all four of my children. Her daughter, Kimmy, is in my prayers and I regret that I cannot be there for her as I was for her mom.

I am facing the fact that, while we were a major support to Amber and Mike when Amber was in the hospital for 52 days with the quad pregnancy and the birth of these four amazing children and the next several years before they started school....and the book fairs and all the times we stayed with them while the parents took a break......

Life doesn't stay the same and changes are hard to process.

I'm working my way through the life changes and trying to find my balance...

It's not easy but we have to embrace our 'now.'

Because 'now' is all we have....

A Few Days in the Country.....

We pulled out of the driveway on Wednesday afternoon at 12:30!

 

Heading for the country!

It's a much easier trip driving my car than it is with the big white truck.

Our only stops were for fuel and at HEB.

The mops were there to greet me!

I need to do a photo shoot with them so I can paint their pictures!

Dean was up there, too, having turned the water on for us and checked things out before we arrived.

He and Sherry are so good to us.

We brought food from home plus the milk and eggs we picked up at HEB.

Louis Dean did a good job cleaning the fridge for me.

Stocked up with plenty of food.

The first night we had rotisserie lemon chicken and the second night I made a big pot of potato soup with some smoked ham from Dean and Sherry along with onions, carrots, rosemary, corn and green peas. It was delicious and we had it again today for lunch.

I bagged the remainder up in zip lock bags and put them in the deep freezer we have done here to take home with us.

I fed our wilted veggies to the goats and they gobbled it all up.

Next best thing to feeding my possums is treating the goats to scraps and leftovers.

I have a set of devotional books and scripture memory cards that I leave here at the ranch.

I bought this Bible word search book at HEB and I haven't decided if I will take it home with me or leave it here.

I play Wordle, Connections and Strands with my son, Jesse, every day.

Plus I do Words With Friends - just in case one of you wants to play!

And I have added Word Search to my agenda of keeping my brain active.

Do any of y'all do these or maybe other things?

Plus I read every day.

Sherry gave us a bunch of books and we are enjoying them.

I've just started this one ....

and I'm reading this aloud to Louis Dean.

It's hilarious!

I haven't been out and about much on this trip to the ranch.

I walked across from our place to take piccs of the goats.

There's just something special about being in the country.

Time seems to slow down and I can sleep, read, rest....whatever I need.

It's like I stopped the world and got off for a few days.

The icing on the cake is that LouisDean found his missing wallet!

It was NOT in the truck like I thought but in his shop room in a drawer under some things.

He is now a very happy camper!

The weather is changing and it will be 33 degrees here tonight and 23 degrees on Saturday night.

So....we will be going home tomorrow afternoon.

Louis Dean does not do well with the cold and we should get home in time to have a nice fire in the den Saturday night and then be there to watch football games on Sunday.

That's what I'm going to do.

We have a Dearborn heater in the bathroom and I will enjoy a hot shower before climbing into the comfy girl bunk with jersey sheets and a warm comforter....and a good book!