A Quiet Week at Home......

 Our kitties missed us while we were at the beach and were confined inside the house!

They were so excited to get outside!

This is Tabitha...

...and Samantha!

She is more of a predator and loves to try to sneak up on geckos, bugs, birds and squirrels.

Loads of birds find shelter in the trumpet vines and I walked under the arbor so the birds would fly away and escape. She also catches mice and plays with them like they are toys!

We start every morning with coffee and devotions on the kitchen deck and we watch the birds, clouds, sky and surroundings. We love our property and have several 'sitting' places all around the front and back yard as well as the driveway.

Louis Dean was so excited when we received Return to the Shack the other day.

The Shack is and was his favorite book!

After I do my prayer time and Bible reading, my devotional books and writing in my diary - I then read a chapter out loud to Louis Dean.

Tuesdays are my favorite and I met up with Brenda at Texas Thrift after which we ate lunch at Chick Fil-A....

This trip Louis Dean ended up with more things than I did!

He loves metal cups and I love the ones with lids as it helps to curb spills of both coffee and wine.

I am upgrading his wardrobe and bought seven Western snap shirts for him.

He and I went through his closet and he is loving his new clothes.

I also bought him new socks - as a dozen or so - when we were in Galveston.

After we got home, I ordered him a dozen white V-necked t-shirts.

I told him he is getting a make-over....

Brand new fall spatulas.

Brenda got to Texas Thrift before I did and she met me at the door with things she knew I would love.

Chico's super elegant black top that is a classic!

Brand new white T - perfect for fall.

Brenda knew the Bell grandgirls hockey team colors are green and white and I will be wearing this one to one of their games soon!

I am a sucker for 'doilies' and I LOVE this one!!

I am so blessed to have Brenda as my best friend AND she's a gifted personal shopper!

Sherry normally works from home but she is here this week because they are doing some training here in the Irving office.

Last night we ate dinner together along with Ileen outside on the driveway.

Why is it that food always taste better when you dine alfresco?

This morning Louis Dean ate his huge bowl of cereal out on the kitchen deck!

There's a bit of yellow around here now. 

That's a cottonwood in the yard behind ours and what we call a yellow trumpet vine that is stretching up over the house!

Our neighbor, Stephanie, cooked last night and then they left town for the weekend and she had a lot of leftovers, which she offered to us!

Win! WIN!!!

I've been determined to maintain my relaxed and peaceful mindset.

Working with issues about taking care of myself and not overextending myself.

My primary goal is taking care of Louis Dean AND myself.

At 78, I am amazed that I'm still learning how to do Life!

Perhaps because it keeps changing just when we seem to be getting our bearings!

Children in the Closet...Chapter 44

 Chapter 44

        Thanksgiving Day started out so well with beautiful fall weather and 50 degrees of crisp air. I enjoyed coffee outside on the patio with Lonnie. It's good to have a brother you can talk to and share experiences. Lonnie has always been funny and kind and a gentle man with a good heart. We shared our faith and our dreams as we sipped our coffee that morning.

I came in and took my shower and cleaned up which took a good amount of time and considerable effort. What with the catheter bag and my weakened condition, it took a while. I dressed for the holiday in my $12 three-piece pant outfit from Salvation Army. It was the color of green similar to my hazel eyes and consisted of a loose top and pants as well as a long sleeveless coat that reminded me of something Bea Arthur would wear in her role as Dorothy on The Golden Girls. That role also reminded me of my mother.

Amber, Benjamin and Summer arrived and we all went over to Lloydine and Charlie's for Thanksgiving dinner. It was wonderful to be together with so many family members. Jesse, Jr and his family were there and baby Samuel was the cutest little guy. Lanita's son, Bill, and his family, Lloydine's son, James, and his family and her daughter, Patricia and daughter Andie were all there. It was a lovely day filled with joy and comfort and good food!

Later in the afternoon Amber, Benjamin and I went to the movies to see Master and Commander with Russel Crowe. We had been planning on doing this as soon as I had surgery and recovered enough to go. However, thirty minutes into the movie, I started hemorrhaging and had soaked my clothes and was bleeding excessively.

Amber drove us back to Mother's where I changed my clothes and layered several pads before Amber drove me to the OB Triage. Summer met us there and I was immediately put into a triage room. As God would have it, both of my surgeons, Elliot and Benevides, were on duty that evening. God is good! Dr. B even asked me, "Do you know our schedule?"

God's timing is always perfect and I received such excellent care and remain forever grateful for the public health care system for those who are uninsurable.

I continued to recover at Mother's for another week or so before I returned home. Benjamin, Amber and Summer were all wonderful to me and made my recovery easier.

        When I had doctor appointments in Fort Worth, Benjamin and I would go over and spend the night with Mother the night before. 

I had an appointment the first Wednesday in December with Dr. Elliot and didn't sleep well the night before. God had a reason for that. I woke up about 3:00 AM to find sparks and flames around an electrical outlet. Mother got up and was quick to turn the breaker off to the room. It's good she thought of that because I'm not sure I would have. Summer came over the next day and put in a new plug.

I had my appointment and gave Dr. Elliot the Santa painting I had been working on for him. They took the catheter out and it was decided I would self-catheter until my bladder got used to being in the proper place. I had no idea then that it would take seven months before that would happen. But you have to do what you have to do and that's what I did.

Leah took us to see Christmas lights that night and we all had a good time. I was humbled that my twenty-one-year-old niece would spend time with us. Young people seem to hang out with other young people but our Leah has always been attentive to her family.

Benjamin had a good attitude about us going back and forth from our house to Mother's but he much preferred to be home. When we were, he would invite some of his gaming buddies over and I would cook up big pots of spaghetti or soup to feed then all. Everyone liked coming to our house and I heard one of his friends say, "I love this house!"

After just missing two Sundays, I was back in church for Ed Young's new series Cribs. I sat beside my friend, Juanita, who was in the singles class and she said Jesse sang a special that morning. I quit going to the class myself. Most of the ladies were looking to meet men, not to have lady friends to hang out with.

I came home the next day and it was nice not to have to sleep with a catheter. I was grateful for my family and for my friends who helped me get through 2003. Stephanie's mother was visiting and they invited me over and I had my first glass of wine in over three weeks. Amber came in about 10:00 from work and she and I sat talking in front of the fireplace. I didn't have real firewood but Benjamin had gathered up fallen tree branches and they burned just as well. It comforted my heart to be home with my two youngest children.

Monday morning, I drove over to Fort Worth and was at the clinic by 7:45. Dr. B was running late because his son was ill but I was so happy to see him and give him the other Santa canvas I had painted. The one I did for him was a jolly red Santa because I knew he had young children. Dr. Elliot had grown children so I painted an old-world Santa for him.

Now that I was recovering so well, I didn't stay in Fort Worth but drove right back home. It was an especially lovely day and I loved hearing the wind rustling the dry leaves on the pecan trees, kids laughing as they played hide-and-seek in the neighborhood and the sounds of birdsong in the air. I had potato soup cooking on the stove and my heart was overflowing with the goodness of God in blessing me with all these good feelings.

Amber moved out on Monday, December 15, 2003. She was so excited and I was happy for her. Leah had given her a huge sofa set along with lamps, tables and mirrors.  Her dad helped her move the furniture with his truck and other of her friends helped her set up the apartment. I went over late that night to see it and I loved it. Great apartment in a good location. Things are always changing. Nothing stays the same, nor should it. Not only things change, but we change with them.

Goodbye to the Beach House and Safely Back at Home....

 Our week at the beach was absolutely wonderful!

The house had such a great view and accommodated us very well.

We all spent some quality time out on the balcony deck.

We had beach days as well as gourmet meals.

We played games - including NUTS!

Ileen entertained two of her dear friends, Jamie and Ruth, who live in the Houston area.

We all played Marvel and talked and laughed together!

Louis Dean had a good time despite saying he is not a fan of the beach.

He also said, "But I love the lady with me who DOES!"

We all left for home by 11:00 Saturday morning.

Louis Dean and I decided to shop the local Goodwill - it's a tradition!

I don't think I've ever been to Galveston without doing some thrifting.

Back in 2015, my friend, Jutta, from Finland flew into Houston and stayed in Galveston for a few days before I drove down to meet her at Casa Del Mar....

We had been friends through my blog for years but this was the first time we had actually met.

She and I shopped Goodwill that trip as well as enjoyed a trip to Murdocks...

Of course, I took her to Benno's on the Beach!

Nita and Mike hosted Thanksgiving that year and I introduced Jutta to my family!

Jutta and Nita....

My Family enjoyed meeting her.

Jutta and Louis Dean

Jutta visited Galveston again in 2018...

I drove down and stayed a few days and we walked the beach together.

Once again, we drove back to Irving and nearly ran out of gas on the way!

I hosted a Christmas Tea and she met more of my friends and family.

Everyone loved her and she loved them back!

She and I are kindred spirits and spiritual sisters, as well.

She and Louis Dean have a favorite song - 

And they sang it together all the way to the DFW International Airport!

We haven't seen each other since but we visit daily on Messenger and talk on the phone often and we look forward to my visit to Finland in the future. And maybe we will meet in Puerto Rico someday.

Well, that was my walk down Memory Lane.....

I have been going to Galveston since the early '70's....

So back to my journal entry.....

Before we left the island I decided to visit Murdocks!

Louis Dean opted to stay in the car while I walked around the store - without buying one single thing! 

I just sat in one of the rocking chairs and watched and listened to the waves and seagulls....

Bliss!

Then I started the drive home.

I stopped to get a Spiced Pumpkin Cappuccino and bought this Pumpkin Brulee Coffee.

I put on Amazon Music playlists of classical country songs and Louis Dean stayed entertained as we listened and sometimes sang our way home.

We arrived in our driveway just as it was turning dark!

Win! WIN!!!

We both slept SO well!

I think it's always good to get home and sleep in our own beds.

We watched Fellowship Church online and sipped our coffee.

Having fun takes a good amount of energy so it will be Rest and Recover for us this week.

We watched the Cowboys game at noon and it was a great game from start to finish!

I may have yelled so loudly that I started coughing again!

It was an edge of your seat game right until the last few seconds!

Hello, GALVESTON!!!

 We are AT the beach!!!

Left at 9:15 on Sunday morning and had our first stop on the other side of Dallas at a Jack in the Box!

We parked at a McDonald's but it was a people-less place that freaked me out!

So we walked across the parking lot to Jack-in-the-box where we saw real people and had a good breakfast before we moved on down the Interstate before stopping at the Cracker Barrel at the edge of Houston......

The four musketeers!!

Our third and last stop was at a rest area!

And we are HERE!!!

Cindy and Summer...

Cindy is Sherry's older sister and she is precious!

Ileen is enjoyiing herself here!

My first walk alomg the ocean edge.

Ahhhhhhh.....

My Happy Place!

It was a beautiful moment that I will never forget!

Louis Dean and I brought beach chairs down  and watch the sun go down....

He had a good time!

Louis Dean is such a trouper!

He has rested a good bit but has had a great attitude.

Our beach house is wonderful!

A great view and just steps away from the beach!

Dean and Sherry was in charge of the food and we divided  the cost between the eight of us and at $31.00 each - we ate like kings! This meal was pulled pork and potato salad.

Another night was chicken fajitos with all the extras!

Sherry made breakfast casseroles and Cindy made sausage balls so all of our meals have been delicious!

Louis Dean and I have spent some really good quality time on the balcony.....

Morning coffee and evening wine!

Plus specialty cocktails - a different one every evening!

Tuesday was our beach day and it was glorious!!!

My bucket list was a beach day and being on the beach in the rain.

I got my bucket full!

More than I anticipated! The rain was awesome at first and then it gained momentum and was harder and HARDER. Ileen and I were in the beach chairs and Summer was way down on the beach but she couldn't hear us!

We survived and it was an adventure and I don't regret a single minute!

Our beach house is just a short path to the sand.

My handsome stepson, Dean!

We had a home day and then a beach day and today was a town day!

We shopped the Strand and I found some cool Christmas presents for my Kansas Ciry siblings and a really nice perfume for me.

Lunch today was at Benno's and my favorite waitress was there and she filled my beer stein full of wine - as she always does. We were last here in April and it's like we are friends -which we are!

I always order the Shrimp Pasta salad and white wine.

Ileen ordered a child's plate with extra coleslaw!

Summer ordered a dozen fried shrimp and she was happy!!

I close tonight's journal without a pic of our awesome rib dinner - thanks to Dean!!