Grateful for Heat and Hot Water and BILLY!

 Our sweet kitties are such good comforts to us and they keep us entertained!

I have sewn paockets on all my aprons and carry my phone with me aas I never know when I'm going to fine a special pose from one of them!

It's amazing the small spaces they can wiggle into....

It's Sunday as I write this journal entry and it has been a trying week!

On Wednesday I was still basking in the glow of such a wonderful time on Monday and I dressed up in some of my gifts and bling and went out to pick up a few things at the store.

This is the first year in maybe over fifty years that I have NOT done after Christmas shopping.

Summer used to pick me up at 6:00 AM on the 26th of December and we would get breakfast at McDonalds and hit up the stores.

This was back in the days of Macy's and Dillards and other department stores where we could buy really nice decorations for 75% off.

In more recent years I have shopped Home Depot mainly for lights since I use them year round.

However, I have more than enough so I skipped it this year.

The next two days were stressful as we were still without gas and Louis Dean was fixated on boiling water. I can't really complain since he kept the dishes washed and filled the tub with enough hot water to take a couple of nice baths. That kept him busy but carrying huge pots of boiling water through the house made me nervous.

I called Atmos Energy and went through all the prompts multiple times as well as calling the city of Irving's Inspection Department.

On Friday I was in tears and told my 'story' to an Atmos agent in Amarillo and another one in Waco.

They were both kind and I asked them to pray for me.

Victoria and Rachel.

They advised me to call the city - again - and this time I poured my 'story' out to the lady who proceeded to resend the corrected inspection permit all highlighted and underlined and marked URGENT.

Finally, late Friday Atmos came out and checked everything and turned the gas on.

The central heat came on but the two workers could NOT get the water heater to light.

Louis Dean tried to tell them but they said, "SIR! We KNOW how to light a water heater!"

But they didn't and as soon as they left, Louis Dean went in there and read the instruction on the heater and proceeded to light it! Win! WIN!!!

Except NO water was going to the water heater!

By this time I had used up every bit of nice I had left and proceeded to go to bed at 7:00.

Billy came over Saturday morning and discovered the leak detector had come on (while the Atmos guys were trying to light the heater) and was flashing red. He pushed the button and BAM!! Water surged into the heater and we were back!

Thank you, Billy!!!

I've caught up with the laundry and Louis Dean has taken a couple of hot soaking bubble baths and I enjoyed long hot showers and a good shampooing!

Now I just feel drained and flat - like I've used up all my 'stuffing' and am like a rag doll.

That's okay and I am grateful for these quiet days.

I spent a lot of time cleaning my pantry and the drawers and cupboards in the kitchen.

I'll continue to do my 'therapy' because that's what housework is to me until I get my mojo back.

Today we watched church online and Louis Dean watched football all afternoon while I napped.

I'm looking forward to a new week in the new year!

Thrifting with Brenda on Tuesday and Dean and Sherry are coming to spend the night on Wednesday.

There's always something to be grateful for...and I am.

In other news.....

The Bell grands skated together for the first time in years.

Harrison had a scrimmage gane and the girls were invited to join.

The Stars game this evening...

I get a lot of joy from watching my children and grands live LIFE!

Jesse took his boys to Las Vegas for the weekend....

I dearly love these guys!

They went rock climbing.

And I love my son!!!

He and Mike are the best dads I've ever met!

I love all my blog friends and pray for 'all who read my words.'

Mary G was a good friend from Alabama and she and I were prayer partners for the last 15 years.

She prayed for Amber and the quad pregnacy and for the babies and she prayed for me when Mother and Nita died..... and when Louis Dean was diagnosed with dementia and Alzheimer's. 

I prayed for her twin grandsons and the cancer one of them battled and survived and went on to have a great life and his brother who is serving in the armed forces as well as other family concerns.

She wrote me in the early fall that she was having a triple bypass - not even realizing she had a heart condition until then.

The surgery was a sucess but she later had issues and has been in the hospital for two months.

She went home to heaven yesterday and I am sad even as I rejoice.

She was a lovely lady who loved the Lord and now is with Him.

I'm so thankful Mary knew I loved her...

and I still do. Love doesn't die......