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....
: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.
.jpg)
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 then 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!!!
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 manicue 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.
