Never a Dull Moment!! Things Just Keep Happening!!

 I always like to start my journal entry with something pretty!

It doesn't get any prettier in my world than this pic of Trystan and Amber as they prepare to fly to Las Vegas for a hockey camp for Trystan on Thursday. The competition was tough but she made the grade to qualify through her hard work and we are so proud of her AND proud of her mama AMBER!!

There's a whole lot going on in the Bell family and the stress and energy levels are high!

I'll share here on my journal when I can and you will be so amazed at all they are doing in their home!

Summer arrived back in Texas on Saturday and we had such a great time reuniting.

She is staying at Ilene's and I think they are going to be the best roommates ever!

We had a good dinner thanks to Whitney who sent us a Door Dash gift!

Thank you, my dear!

Our movie of choice was Mr. Harrigan's Phone.....

We thought it was going to be a good movie.....until it turned creepy towards the end.

As the credits rolled and Stephen King's name appeared - we understood why!

Sunday morning I woke up at 3:00 and heard water running.

I have 'listening ears' much like a mother has with small children.

I thought Louis Dean was drawing bath water - but no.

I went outside - first to the back yard and then to the front - and found the source.

A heavy stone statue had fallen on the water faucet at the corner of the house!

I praise and thank God for waking me up as the water was on the driveway but NOT running down the street!

Louis Dean got up and turned the water off so crisis was averted!

Sunday morning he moved the statue away from the faucet.....should have hauled it to the curb...

and proceeded to figure out how to get the water back on.

Summer was kind enough and took LD to Home Depot to get the set of  pvc pipe repair....

that gave me time to be 'home alone.'

 

:Louis Dean had several sets and while they were gone,  I found one in his music room.

No matter! Now we have extras and I tucked one set away in the bottom of my pantry.

This was the cuplprit.....

I said he should cap it off since we have another faucet less than six feet across from it.

So by Sunday evening - we had water!

We celebrated on the driveway with a mocktail for me and wine for him!

All was well - until it wasn't!

My phone rang at 8:30 Monday morning and, of course, I was still asleep.

It was my doctor's office with new info as to changes in my thyroid medication and and a RX for my UTI. Plus suggested a referral to another doctor for my fatty liver.

We have so many doctor appointments already that I am resisting adding another one.

I hung up the phone and went back to bed.....and the power went out!

No coffee due to no electricity....everything stops when the power goes out!

Ilene and Summer picked us up and we all went to Comfort Cafe for breakfast.

I looked funny since I put my make up on outside and most of it slid right off - it's hot and humid in Texas. Plus I couldn't use eye make up on my left eye so I looked a bit odd.

The food and coffee hit the spot and it certainly lifted our spirits!

But as we stood up to leave, God had arranged yet another special blessing for me.

I noticed this pretty lady as she walked in with her husband and how he held the door for her.

I also noticed how they prayed over their meal - just as Summer prayed over ours.

As I stood up, she motioned me over and, thinking I may know her, I went to their table.

We did NOT know each other but our spirits bonded immediately.

She loved my yellow dress and told me I was beautiful.

I admired her as told her the very same thing!

We hugged and visited and hugged again.

We may never see one another again but she blessed me and I blessed her and I know she is praying for me as I am praying for her.

We will meet in heaven and have a good laugh!

By the time we got home the power was back on and Summer helped me file a claim with State Farm on my vehichle. Nothing's easy and I am so grateful for Summer's help!

Within and hour of filing the claim, they were here to take my car to the repair shop.

Win! WIN!!!

I love feeding and watching our possums!

We have an entire family livving under our kitchen deck.

The two babies are my favorites.

My salad supper for Monday ....

And his .....

Summer took me on Tuesday to get my rental car and, of course, it was a big ordeal!

Everything is, isn't it??

They said it would be two hours until I could get a car.... so Brenda picked us up and we did some thrifting!

I absolutely fell in love with this dress and even tried it on over my clothes!

I found the belt to go with it and all I need to do is hem it up a bit!

I have Brenda to thank for nearly every Chico piece have!!

She has an eye for all things CHICO!!

She was going to buy this Chico black dress - until she found the matching jacket that went with it.

And being the super great best friend - gave them to me.

She also found this cool Chico top.....

This will go great with the white pants that I found!

I also found this beautiful pair of earrings!

Will go great with the green dress.

Brenda dropped us off at Enterprise and I am now driving a Hyundai Palisade..

Took me a minute to figure out all the butons!

Summer brought dinner over on Wednesday - flatbread pizzas and a super good salad!

I have fallen off the photo wagon but I will get up again!!

We three played three hands of NUTS and we each won one!!

Win! WIN!!! WIN!!!

This was Ileen's very first win and come Christmas Eve she will be a force to be reckoned with!!

Thursday was another stressful day as the faucet in the front was leaking AGAIN!

Water off again!!

Bottom line - LD doesn't throw anything away and was using inferior materials! 😞😝

We made another quick run to Home Depot and he bought a new faucet. TWO of them so he has one to lose keep.

We had a 2:00 appointment at Lovely Nails for pedicures and a manicure for me.

Louis Dean loves this place and all the attention they give him!

He really rested while I got my manicure.

Sheer bliss!!!

When we left to go home, I mentioned repairing the faucet so we could get the water on.

He was so surprised and said he had already fixed it!

No....he had not.

There's another faucet still in freeze protection covering just across the walkway.

But no! He had to repair THIS one!

Meaningless photos of the area around the faucet.

Notice his one-of-a-kind overalls??

He likes to do his own laundry - by hand - and he does love bleach!!

After the last leak on Thursday, he removed the tall PVC pipe and put the brand new faucet on!

And just like that - I have water!!!

All of this sounds relatively calm and easy going - but I was nearly jumping out of my skin at this point!

I woke up this Friday morning feeling flat and out of sorts.

Today is our 21st wedding anniversary and we had plans......

but I just did not have the emotional, physical, mental or spiritual energy to celebrate.

Louis Dean and I have a very special love and no matter the stress and frustration we have keeps us from loving each other deeply.

Louis Dean can't remember much - and that's not his fault - but he knew when I went to bed last night that I was struggling.

This morning when he was up earlier than I, he peeked in the door and asked, "Are you okay?"

I said I was.....

However the stress and having this UTI that never seems to end and then my thyroid levels jumped way up - I had thyroid cancer in 1989 and have been on medication ever since with very little changes in the dosage through the last 37 years and all of a sudden it goes up??

I remember when I use to do my journal entries every day - and then every few days and now it's been over a week. I will continue to journal when I can and I know you all understand.

Love and prayers to all who read my words.

I am and so are YOU!!!

All Things Bright and Beautiful

I am so very grateful for my family and friends!

Amber was here to take me to the surgery center in Coppell.

We had to BE there at 7:00 - as in the MORNING!

I didn't sleep much the night before but no one ever does the night before surgery. 

Everyone was so kind from the receptionist to the nurses to the doctors......

The procedure went well and I felt no pain whatsoever.

In by 7:00 and out by 11:00!

Amber was so good in staying with me and then took me to Cracker Barrel for lunch and some shopping.

We scored on some 70% off  treasures and then visited over a really good breakfast!

I couldn't take pictures since I had a patch on the left eye and that affected my depth perception....

so I groped around like a blind lady!

From there we went to Aldi so I could get eveything I needed for the coming week and Amber - who only shops Target - found some good buys of her own.

Surgery Day went well and the patch I had to wear to cover my eye kept coming undone.

I solved that problem by wearing a headband over it to hold it in place.

Amber got me settled in at home and put my groceries up and I took a nap after she left.

Brenda and Billy brought our dinner in from Angelo's....salads....

and lasagna  for me and pasta with grilled chicken for him.

Today was another early morning - though not nearly as early as yesterday - and Ilene took me to the doctor appointment to get my eye patch off.

It was so exciting - I could see things so much brighter and all the colors were so pretty!!!

Ilene treated me to breakfast at the Country Cafe in Irving and it was so warm and cozy and the home cooking was delicious.

Another lovely outing that totally counted as a time of 'respite!'

I slept nearly all afternoon and then did some art....

I embellished this printed canvas and it looks really good to me!

This scene is from a photo from my friend in Finland....

I started it last year and hope to finish it and get it in the mail soon.

In news about our car.....I will file a claim with State Farm and move on from there.

I still can't drive just yet but hopefully soon and hope to get a rental car.

Amber took pictures of the construction area where my car was damaged.

The metal plate allowing traffic was not in place when I drove into the ditch and I did not know what had happened until it DID!

I saw no workers around warning about the danger  and no signs.

AFTER my car was stuck in the concrete ditch, several workers appeared and only one spoke English.

My car was really burgered up!

My poor car!!

Our Weekend and Preparing for Surgery....

We had a good weekend!

Friday Louis Dean had an appointment with his retina specialist and the pressure behind his eyes had improved! Great news!

We both see Dr. Dharma and she is a very good doctor.

We celebrated by eating lunsh at Whataburger before going to Home Depot for a new propane grill.

This employee went above and beyond in his service!

He helped me choose a grill and then made sure we got the one that was already put together.

Not only that but he helped LD load it up in our car.

Turns out his father was military and he had Alzheimer's for four years and he totally understood how to relate to Louis Dean.

God is good in putting people in our path who are helpers.

From there we went to Joe V's Smart Shop - part of the HEB company.

At the corner of Story Road and Hwy 183, they have a huge and affordable selection of fruits nd vegetables!

Saturday night dinner and movie featured Chicken Apricot Paninni's - which ended up tasting so much better than they looked!!

Our movie of choice!

I'm thinking about subscribing to Acorn TV...

do any of your watch that and is it worth the $10 a month?

I made a beautiful fruit bowl for Sunday Brunch in Fort Worth!

Red and yellow watermelon, blackberries, strawberries, seedless purple small grapes, fresh apricot slices and orange slices....and topped with a mint garnish.

All from Joe V's and so good!!

Meet my Margaret!

I am mother-in-law to her daughter, Rachel, and she is mother-in-law to my son, Jesse.

She hosts Sunday mornings at her home every week!

I  forgot to take many pics but the food was delicious and plentiful!

Coffee! At least two pots of it!

Pancakes!

Quiche!

Brisket!

Fried beans - home made!

Tortillas and home made salsa - both HOT and not.

BOTH were good!

This was our first social outing in a long time!

I love how Rachel's family have embraced us and they all remembered our names.

We had the best time visiting and relaxing together.

Her brother, Mario, and his children and grandchild was there....

Mallory is an adorable three year old and her parents, Joseph and Taylor, are absolutely amazing.

Joseph is a chef and Taylor is in the food industry as well.

Noah is another grandson and such an engaging guy.

I love them all and hope I haven't left anyone out!

Before we drove home, Jesse and I visited the old Haynie's Grocery Store down the street.

My sister, Nita nd her ex-husband, Bob, owned the store and Margaret, Rachel, and Mario all worked there. Amazing how small the world is sometime.

Jesse and Rachel met online and had no idea there was history there!

Rachel baby sat my niece, Leah, and Margaret and Mario worked at the store.

Mike, Nita's beloved husband , worked there as a butcher.

We had a lovely time with everyone and I love all the memories we all share!

Monday I worked at getting the house clean and in order before my eye surgery on Wednesday.

I did laundry, vacuumed, cleaned the kitchen.....

Louis Dean worked on the lamp light in our front yard.

He finally got it to light - but don't tell him - it doesn't work now.

I won't tell him because I would rather he NOT do electrical things!!

Our kitties are enjoying being indoor/outdoor cats.....

They are anxious to get out the door in the mornings and then come in off and on in the afternoons and for sure at night.

Today I meant to go to Aldi and pick up some things to hold us while I recuperate from the cataract surgery.

Alas.....at the corner two blocks up....I injured my car by getting stuck in a ditch where they were doing roadwork.

There were no signs and the metal 'bridge' to cover the ditch wasn't there.

What a shock!

I could not go forward or backward.

The city workers put sandbags in the ditch but that didn't work either.

Finally all the workers plus Louis Dean pushed the car bacakwards and freed me.

Alas, it damaged the radiator and it was losing wtaer so we had no choice but to go back home.

I was so discombobulated that I decided to not try to figure out what to do until I get my surgery and can drive again.

We have a good repair shop just a few blocks away so I'm sure we can get repairs done in due time.

I really hope it's not intensive or expensive - but it is what it is.

Not sure when I can do another journal entry as some can't see clearly for a few days and I guess it all depends on the individual.

I know for sure that I will be taking a few days off....

Love and prayers for all who read my words....

I do appreciate every one of you!