Christmas is over already?

Why is it that you work so long and so hard for something that is over in a flash? I absolutely love Christmas, but even if you decorate at Thanksgiving, it is still over way to soon. I don't want to take the decorations down, I'd like to leave them up for at least another month...that won't happen. I guess with the break in the weather I should take down the outside stuff. It's so pretty. I'll leave the tree up for another week.

Micah went back to Virginia this afternoon. He slept much better on the new mattress. It's hard to believe he's been here and gone already. He really had fun shopping for all of us this year. I got a cast iron pot (I've wanted one for years)It's gonna be great. It's an Emeril pot! And I also got a real chef's knife. It's REAL SHARP! I also got a wonderful set of knives and block to put them in from Chris. I got a new keyboard for the computer from Jordan.I am still getting used to it. The keys are more like they are on a laptop (flat) and real quiet. I can actually come down and type in the middle of the night and not wake Jeff up "clacking" away.

Jeff got me a bunch of stuff from Christopher and Banks (my favorite store in the Mall) he got me a gift certificate too, and when we were at the mall yesterday to watch a movie, we went shopping and I spent my "wad" so I'll have to wear new stuff to church tomorrow. Since NewPointe is not having services, we are going to go to church with Chris down in Uhrichsville. It'll be nice to see old friends we don't see often.

Chris and a couple of friends are getting ready to cook deer steaks over an open fire. They have red potatoes, and veggies and who knows what else. It's going on 9 PM and they are cooking? I'm gonna head upstairs to bed. I bought some old movies as stocking stuffers, and I got one for myself. Sleepless in Seattle. It's one of my all time favorites, so Jeff will have to watch a "chick flick" he'll humor me since I watch his movies all the time.

Well it is Sunday now, so I'll finish this so I can post since it's been too long between postings.
we had deer steaks for lunch today after church. They were really yummy. I never thought I'd hear myself saying that, but they really were good. So tender, and such a mild flavor. I don't really care for strong meat.

I am about ready to take a nap, it's my traditional day for napping. I have to say that I have a Facebook page, and I am so excited. I have made contact with so many long lost friends and past roommates from college and beyond. Yesterday I found a family that I have known for about 25 years that I haven't seen for about 5 years. It was so fun to make contact! Hi Amy, Karen, Melanie and Carmen!

I found out just before Christmas that the other story I submitted did not make the cut for the book. I was pretty bummed out, but my writing group really liked the story and encouraged me to continue to submit it to other places, so next week I'll start over. I have to work on Through The Tears also. I need to re-write it and have Lee help me do the line by line edit. Maybe I'll have it ready to submit to Howard Publishing in May. They were very interested last year and said if I'm not published by this May to let them know....

What a beautiful day it is today. Windy, but beautiful! The sun is shining, and it looks warm. Jeff was out earlier in his "sun booth" trying to catch a few rays. He cracks me up when he does that.

I am trying to get my brain wrapped around that 2008 is drawing to an end! I am just getting used to writing 2008, now I get to be corrected each and every time I write it wrong...2009 WOW! I'll be 49 this year. I CANNOT believe I'm that old. (my kids can, and they love to comment about Jeff and I being old). Of course I comment about Jeff's age since he's 53 already!

This year will be the year that I no longer have any teenagers. Chris will be 20 in March! Liz would have been 26 on March 20. Then in August, Jordan will be 22 and September, Micah will be 25...INCREDIBLE. How did they get that old???????

I guess I need to take it one day at a time. Let's get through the end of 2008, and have our pork and kraut to begin 2009. Then I'll think about what is next. Have a great rest of the weekend.

I'm almost ready

The decorations are done, the cookies are baked, the candy is made, the stockings are hung...hmmmm what else? I guess if the weather is lousy tomorrow I'll wrap presents. I don't have many, but I haven't done any wrapping. I have a couple of loads of laundry to do, and sheets to change... and a mattress to buy (this weekend Jeff says).

I am pretty excited about what I am seeing on the scales too. I have gotten past the plateau! Woo-hoo!!!!!! I have 14 pounds to get to my goal! Maybe I can lose some more before we go to Micah's ordination in January. Maybe.

The boys got their grades, whew... they both did well. Now we have to pray in the funds for Jordan's trip to Zambia, as well as tuition for two! Well Lord, how are you gonna supply this time?

We had our family picture done before Thanksgiving.

Here is a preview:

I have been in a very nostalgic mood these past few days. I guess the holidays tend to do that. I know that's the case, I teach my GriefShare groups that! It's so hard. It's hard not seeing Liz in this photo.

This one doesn't look quite right...it's a bit out of focus (I took a picture of a picture)

I seem to be skipping around in my normal ADOS fashion (Attention Deficit...Oooooh Shiny) maybe I can blame the caffeine (I had a bottle of Dr. Pepper today the first one in over a year) I also had something that has caused me to break out in an itchy, blotchy mess on my face. Oh joy, something else I am allergic to.IT BETTER NOT BE THE CHOCOLATE! I was making chocolate covered peanut butter crackers, and chocolate covered marshmellows. UGH!

My guys are watching the movie Flyboys, so I am curled up in the corner with my computer! I guess I am bored. I have things I need to do, but I DON'T WANNA.

I have been wondering about the stories I submitted. I heard from the Gary Chapman people, I didn't make that cut, but I am still waiting to hear form the Jim Bell people... I e-mailed my contact person (she's probably thrilled) to see if they have heard from the publisher as to who made the cut. I keep hoping!

My Writer's group met here on Monday (minus one person). It was still a good meeting. I read the story I submitted to the Jim Bell "people" and got a positive response from the group, let's hope the publisher agrees.

I have been contacted by two other churches to speak. St Joe's Catholic Church in Dover asked me to speak during Lent, and Sharon Mennonite asked me to come on January 4th. Maybe this will be the year I can be put on the "circuit" of professional speakers and writers association. You never know what will happen.

Well, I cannot think of anything else to write tonight, so I'll go get my "jammies" on and call it a day. I hope to blog before Christmas, but just in case I run out of time Merry Christmas to all of you!

Another happy moment

By supper time today I'll have two of my boys home for almost four weeks! I'm one happy mama! They each have one more final, then they hit the road for home. I am planning one of their favorite meals for tonight. Gotta celebrate.

I am hoping for a break in the rain to get the outside decorations up. Seems that time is quickly slipping away from me. I will be working for the next two days at the church. Jean and I will be preparing food for about 600 people... whew! It's fun but really tiring. Sunday night we have small group here at our house. It'll be our Christmas party. Monday I am having our writer's group here in the morning through early afternoon, then I'll be back at the church to help with the staff Christmas party.

I have most of my baking done, but I have yet to start my candy. I have the stuff, but ....

So much to do, so little time to get it all done. I am still amazed by the fact that I used to do all of this and work! No wonder I would get sick.

I know this is a short update, but I have toilets to clean (oh joy) and floors to sweep and one last load of laundry to fold.

Yessssss....

I am so excited, I got my first deer today! Uh-huh! Here is a picture to prove it! Yep, I went out all by myself, and I got him! (He was a button buck) It wasn't the big buck I had hoped to get, but it was a deer nonetheless. WOO-HOO. I still have three more days to get another one. Maybe I'll go out during primitive weapon season if I don't get another this week. We only have three muzzle loaders in the family.

It's nice to have a happy ending to the story I wrote called Diamonds, Long Fingernails and 20 Gauge Shotguns.

Moving on to other things that need updated...

The guest room.

Yes, I did get it done just in time for Micah to come home for Thanksgiving! I have a mattress dilemma though. Here are a few pictures of the room. I am planning on moving a few things around after we get new beds, and Jeff builds the headboards I want. In the first picture you can see the mattress on the floor... an antique stand and magazine rack that my great grandpa made.

In this second picture you can see some of my quilts I have piled up. I have not had the time to make the quilted wall hangings, and dresser scarves I intend to do, but winter is a loooong season.

In the third picture you can see that I have used the ladder that Chris used to climb up into his loft bed as a quilt holder. The dresser is also an antique that was given to us by our old neighbors.

This last picture is the bed again but it also includes the small table that my great grandpa made too! I still have a sewing cabinet that is also homemade, and an old rocker to put in there.

Also, the Christmas decorations (inside) here are a couple of pictures of that too.

So, I think I have fulfilled all of the requests made...

Our GriefShare Surviving the Holidays was held on Tuesday night. We had 23 attendees plus Jeff and myself as facilitators. It was a real blessing! Thanks to all of you that were praying!

I am going to go warm up, I'm still freezing from being outside. Plus I have a realllly sore arm from my gun...OUCH!

A happy mom

Oh joy! I am one happy mom... all of my guys are home. Jordan and Chris got in about 7 last night, Micah got in at about 4 this morning. I haven't seen Micah yet... Can't wait for the hug when I do see him! He got stuck in a huge snowstorm on the way home so it took him 7 1/2 hours to get here rather than the usual 5 1/2 or 6. I was gone till after 10 last night so I had to wait to see Jordan and Chris. Tonight we are going to have a family picture taken (several actually) It's about time. I have finally decided I have no excuses. Besides I need an updated photo for my profile anyhow!

GriefShare last night was once again amazing. There were 17 of us! We had dinner together, everyone brought something, (We all brought something that was a favorite of our loved one) we actually ran out of room on the table, and had to spread out onto the counter! What a great group we had this time. I always have great groups, but there was just something different with this group. First of all it was the largest group so far, and from the very first meeting everyone was so open to share their hearts with everyone. That is a facilitators answer to prayer!

I am going to post pictures of our group. There was so much happening last night. I had one woman say that the conversations during dinner last night were so good, so healing. Breaking bread together was just what we needed to complete out 13 session cycle.

We had a very good "remembrance service" to go along with the session. Here is our table with pictures, candles, Rosemary (the herb) and the ornaments that I made for each person. They were clear glass, with a white feather (symbolic of an angel's wing) with "Remember" written on them. We need to remember that our loved one in in heaven surrounded by angels singing praises to God! Everyone got up and shared their loved one's picture, and a little about them, lit a candle in honor of their lives, cried a little, and healed a little more.

Next week we will be having the first Surviving the Holidays for GriefShare. I am looking forward to that. We will have room for about 50 or more people, and be viewing the CD on the huge screen in Studio 56. No struggling to see on the tiny TV.

I have million and one things to do today, since I have blogged, now it's only a million! I hope all of you have a wonderful, joy filled Thanksgiving! Remember, no matter what you have gone through, there is ALWAYS something to be thankful for! Happy Thanksgiving!

Snow

I have to admit that the snow is really pretty, but it is something I can do without! As a child, I loved the cold and snow. Then I grew up. At 16 I got my drivers permit in February, and of course (I lived up north by Akron) we had considerable snow. I think it was then that I started to NOT like snow. I absolutely hate driving in it! My boys are a whole different story (I gave birth to them, but they certainly are not like me) They are typical testosterone filled males that love to do donuts, and spin their tires... seemingly with no fear. Then there is me. I drive slowly, cautiously, white knuckled, can't sit back in the seat because I'm so tense. I'm sure you get the picture.

Here are a few pictures of what I am seeing as I type.




As far as I can tell we got about an inch of snow.I don't expect it to last long. The sun is shining, and I'm sure it will warm up enough to melt like it did yesterday. Then I'll feel safe to go out! I know I'm a chicken!

Progressing...

Jeff started painting the guest room last night. Hopefully he'll finish it today. I am very anxious to get it in shape for Micah to use while he's home. Although I don't have a whole bed for him to use. I have a mattress, and the other furniture, just no box springs/platform. Maybe I'll find something cheap.

I can't wait to have a finished product to take pictures of to post on here. You saw the before pictures a while back.

I am gearing up to do my Christmas decorating. I try to have the boys get my "stuff" down from the barn loft while thy are home. We are going to have a family picture taken this year. I have been making plans and preparations for that. I am almost to the 40 pounds lost mark (I still have 20 more to go after that...maybe) I have lost this last few about 4 times now. I keep going up 4 , then losing it...UGH! I always used my weight as an excuse for not having family pictures done (how stupid is that?) Needless to say, the last family picture was when we were in Florida before Liz died. And I still wasn't happy because I was so heavy. But now I treasure it because Liz is in it. It was just one month before she died.


Wow, look how young we all are. Chris was in 5th grade, Jordan 6th, Micah 9th, and Liz 11th.


Now, all of my guys are adults and I need to do this before they are to far away to cater to Mom's whims.

I have GriefShare tonight, then next week we have our final session in this cycle. I have something special planned for then.

Also,

We are going to present the new GriefShare "Surviving the Holidays", on Tuesday, December 2, at 7 pm at NewPointe Community Church. If you are interested you need to register at the church 330.602.5600. We have about 40-50 workbooks for that, so be sure to call if you are planning on attending. The cost is $4.00.


I need to get laundry and dishes done so I'll have to quit playing. See you later.

Fun fun fun

The party was a raging success! Mary was so surprised, the ho-ho cake was reeeeallllllly yummy! I got to see Mary's nephew Chase (seen here in these pictures) he is affectionately called "Festus" he is one of the cutest kids!

Behind Mary are two of her sisters -in-law, and another niece (Maggie on the left) and her newest niece Katie was the youngest attendee at 8 weeks. Another niece Emma (on the far right) was there as well. It was so much fun!

Here are pictures of the group that surprised her! I have never seen Mary speechless...until then!

The ho-ho cake is seen here with Mary's favorite scrapbook phrase emblazoned on it! Slap it down and move on!

I made a boat load of cards, and to/from tags. I didn't do any scrap booking.

I have to include this picture of Mary's sister Carol and Chase. Poor little guy thought he'd stick his fingers in Mary's "Queen Jean cheesecake" and we all hollered, and he burst into tears, I felt so bad, but I thought this picture was so sweet I had to include it!

Carol is expecting her second baby in the early spring, so little Festus is gonna be a big brother! Awwww...

Well I have shared a portion of my weekend with you. I hope you enjoyed it, I sure did.

Today I went to a new writer's group at my friend Sally's house. I have been invited several times over the past few months but have never taken advantage of the opportunity until today. I went with a bit of nervous anxiety, but came home very encouraged. The woman that is leading this group has agreed to help me with my book! I e-mailed it to her about three weeks ago, and today she gave me some feedback! I look forward to working with her. She has already given me suggestions that will help it to flow better (Tina, I'll send you the un-edited version)

Well, that's the news for the moment. I have so much to do in the next couple of weeks to get ready for all of my guys to come home for Thanksgiving, so I may not be blogging as much, but I'll try to keep you posted on the newest happenings.

Moving on with life

After we have finally come to the end of all of the political commercials, phone calls, signs, debates, articles... I find that life goes on as usual. I may not be particularly happy about who our next president is. However, I know as do many of my friends and family that no matter who is in the White House, or for how ever long they will be there (one term or two) God will NEVER change!

No one can make Him any different than He has ever been! Hallelujah! God does have His hands full with all of us anyway. None of us are perfect. No Republican or Democrat, no King, Queen, or any other ruler will ever meet that criteria. Jesus Christ is the one and ONLY that has ever met all of the qualifications. I just happen to be VERY GOOD FRIENDS with Him! Of course, it is not a special group. It is something that is open and available to anyone and everyone! Your choice! If you want to know how let me know, we'll talk.

In moving on I find that I have ever so many things that need to be done. I started canning soup again this morning at 6:00 a.m. I have the second batch in the pressure canner, and a third waiting to be put into jars and processed. I now have: Beef vegetable, 15 bean, Sausage-Lentil, Tortilla, and also just beef that I am canning. It always tastes so good in the winter. I am also going to try something new this year. I am going to can potatoes. I love to do this sort of stuff. It always looks soooooo nice to go to the basement and look at the shelves where I keep all of my home canned food and see what I have accomplished.

Tonight I get to do two things. One is something that brings tears to my eyes, and that is to go to calling hours for a young man that died at the age of 18. It is very tragic circumstances that I will not go into, but I know his Grandmother and Aunt very well, so Jeff and I will go to support and pray for them and the rest of the family.

The second is: I get to go to an all night scrapbook party! WOOHOO. And along with that I get to celebrate MARY'S BIRTHDAY with her !!!!!!!! I'll get to see a lot of friends, possibly hold a baby or two and eat ho-ho cake from Litty's!! Now can you think of anything that could cheer me up more than that? Forget the diet (not that I have done anything to help it this week) I am going to have a blast.

My van is loaded but I still have one very important stop I have to make before I can go play tonight (I can't tell it's a secret) so certain people that always read my blog won't know what they are getting for their Birthday...

My timer is almost ready to go off so I need to end this one here. I have soup that need to be taken off the stove. Ummmmm yummy....

I'm voting my heart

I hope this is the plain and simple truth of it!

I have heard time and again that our country needs change...

Well, I agree to a point. There are things that need to change, but I don't think anyone that is elected will be able to make the changes they claim.

This country was founded on fundamental truths, and it was established on Biblical truths. Where have we put those truths? It seems that they have gone down the tubes.

On Friday I spent four hours waiting at Tuscora Park in New Phila. for John McCain to arrive at the rally. I was pretty close to the front, and was pleased that the turn out was about 3000. There were more people, but several left when he was running so late, so who knows how many were really there.

I have certain morals, and I believe that LIFE is the most important. This is an issue that is touchy with a lot of people, but it seems to be pretty simple to me...Thou shall not kill... sound familiar?

I may not have chosen this particular candidate, I had another that I liked better, but I have to vote my heart, and this is the candidate that most closely resembles my values. We must all pray for who ever is the chosen person that will be elected tomorrow.

It is our responsibility to pray for our president.

Have you prayed for the current one? NO? Then you have NO RIGHT TO COMPLAIN!

This is one place where I am free to express my views, it belongs to me, and I do have an opinion. I know that many of you do not agree, and that is your choice. I will not say that you are wrong, I will only state my views here and not argue with anyone!

I urge you to VOTE! It is a God given privilege. Exercise it!

A lazy kind of day

One of my favorite things to do on a day like today is to go through cookbooks! I love cookbooks! I collect them... of course I collect dust too! I was trying to decide what to make for our company Christmas party. Then after Jeff came home form work we talked and decided that we may not have the party after all. With the way the economy is going it's expensive.

I made sure that when we designed my "new" kitchen at the farm we would include a built in bookshelf in my island. I had seen it in an old Taste of Home cooking magazine, and loved it! (Above) Of course I have more than filled it and have had to add several (minus the pile I was going through) to another shelf in my kitchen. (Left) That table was originally for my crocks/tureens. It is turning into a cookbook table!

And you should see the collection that my mother-in-law has.....oooooooohhhhhh! It puts my collection to shame.
I started to change the clothes in my closet from spring/summer to fall/winter. I haven't gotten very far, just piles in my room... to be put on hangers and placed in my already over stuffed closet. Farm houses are not known for having a lot of closet space. If you know me you know that I love clothes... and shoes...and jewelry.. which means that I do not have the space I used to have at our old house for my "stuff". That is one of the things that I miss the most about our old house my walk in closet, and another is the attached garage.

I started this blog three times now- in between times of writing I have been working on the piles of clothes UGH!!! And watching it snow. Yes that's right S-N-O-W that nasty cold wet stuff that happens in the cold brrrrr winter months YUCK.

Yes, I know that there are people that love the cold and snow (I have a son that does-I used to think he was a bright boy...) Sorry son! It can be beautiful, but it really lasted a LONG time last year! I don't like to go out in it especially if there is ice. I am afraid of falling. I have had two back surgeries and cannot afford a fall.

We just got a call from our second son that is attending IWU. He was pretty excited because he found out that he was accepted into the program in Zambia, Africa for the May term this year. Now all he has to do is raise about $4200.00 .... I better do a lot more writing. Anybody have any ideas what I can write about? Maybe a "how to" book on how to raise money in a recession...

Perhaps I need to take opportunity to to shoot one or two of these critters that showed up outside of my dining room last week. I was wondering if Thanksgiving dinner was just going to walk into the dining room for me. I was pretty amazed that they would get so close to the house. there were actually 14 of them but I didn't get them all in the shot. Our dog, Buzz, thought it was pretty interesting. He sniffed and sniffed after they meandered away. Here is a picture of them as they walk past two grills on our deck. Do you think they were intimidated? No way! Here is a picture of Buzz sniffing the area. He decided to chase after them several hours later. I have had to holler at him several times as he thinks he's allowed to go after them.

It appears he now thinks he's a turkey dog, rather than a rabbit or squirrel dog. My was he upset.

Jeff thought it was a good time to take a shot at them when they appeared again yesterday

afternoon. He thought he hit one, it acted like he got it, but then it ran for the woods about 1000 yards away from the house. NOPE, no fresh turkey yet. Maybe I'll go get my turkey permit and get one. I can sit on my porch and shoot it! I'll feel like Granny Clampett. Ha!

Well, I'm feeling the urgency to finish the pile of clothes on my bed, then I am done for now. I have every intention of sleeping in my bed tonight and as long as my skirts and slacks are piled up I can't see that happening.

Moravian Women's Conference

Welcome to Girlville with Kim Bolton was a wonderful experience! It was a time of fellowship with sisters in Christ. Some I knew, some I didn't. Kim has an amazing way of incorporating scripture into her message, or rather she says she OWNS it. Once she has it memorized she can claim it as her own. Something God created for her! (us too). She reminds me of Dr. Jack VanImpe. He is referred to as the walking Bible. He has so many scriptures committed to memory it is incredible! The same is true for Kim. She mixed it up with personal stories, beautiful songs, and funny, funny anecdotes! Yes, she is the PMS Queen (you must read her book Conversations at the Girlville Diner to understand) I loved it!


I had the opportunity to share our testimony today. It went well... THANK YOU JESUS! I feel so privileged to have been asked to be a part of the first conference. It is exciting and humbling. In preparation for what I shared, God very kindly pointed out a few things in my life that needed a bit of attention, well actually less attention. It was not something I found to be fun (it kind of reached up an bit me)I know that God has more than one purpose in showing me those things, and my sharing them with everyone today. Just be careful when you pray : "Lord help me to have clean hands and a pure heart". God will take your request, and answer it!

It was an awesome experience to be involved on the same Conference as Kim Bolton, as well as the Circle Of Friends Worship Team! Girls, you did great job of ushering us into the presence of the Lord as we prepared to hear the messages!


I am pretty excited too that I actually won one of the prizes offered by COF. I won several things, but the one I am really excited about is the complimentary ticket to the A Night of Real Christmas, featuring Kim Hill and Lisa Harper! It will be at NewPointe Community Church on November 21! You can log on to the Friends Radio (site at the side of my blog for more information. I will try to attach more info on that soon.

Thanks to all of you that were praying! God heard and answered!

I had opportunity to share lunch with Kim, Lisa, my friend Sally, an new friend Jo, and a couple other lovely ladies at our table. What a fun time that was. Kim was a hoot. (Kim, if you read this I am still praying for Jeanette I hope it was a blessing for you all today.)

Well, I can feel the sand in my eyes, and exhaustion knocking on my door. I'll be back soon with more goodies to share with you.

Finally

Yesterday I finally began work in the guest room! I couldn't stand it any longer. I have tried to be attentive to Jeff. To be available if he needed something. However, yesterday I started to do something. I stripped the boarder off. It may not sound like much, but the process took several hours. It was one of those boarders that the adhesive on the back was really good! It also was a vinyl paper, which makes it hard to remove easily. I will wash down the walls today, patch the holes (there must be about 50 holes...) Then I can paint! Woo-Hoo!

The downside to all of that is my shoulders and elbows ache! The Fibro is really kicked up today. Jeff warned me, but I couldn't stand waiting another moment!

This morning, Jeff went to work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! One of our part time guys stopped by to pick him up, and he'll put in a half day. I feel like my old self -for a few hours anyway. I have to take him to the doctor this afternoon. Hopefully he'll be released to go back to work part time ...maybe.

I have so many things to do, so this is a short post. I'll keep you posted on the progress in the guest room.

Excitment

I am so excited! I got my mail today and what should I receive? It was my first paycheck for writing something that will be published in July of 2010. Sounds like forever at this moment, but when you think about it it's almost 2009. UGH!
I was going to show you the whole thing, but I didn't want to reveal to much personal information. I can't say I am rich, but it's the first paycheck I have gotten since I left NewPointe church 16 months ago.

COOL!

Jeff is feeling much better. We went for a walk around the farm tonight. Here are a few pictures for you to enjoy:

It was an absolutely beautiful day today. I spent quite a bit of time on the computer today working on editing. I am helping to edit and choose devotionals to go in a devotional that Our Circle of Friends is going to publish. It's a lot of fun.

Well, one more week until the Moravian Women's Conference where I will be sharing. If you would please pray I would be grateful.

Our boys will be coming home next week for their fall break. I am looking forward to seeing two of the three. We won't see Micah until Thanksgiving, unless we decide to visit him.

It's time to relax, so enjoy the pictures.

Jeff... minus his appendix

Jeff and I thought you might enjoy seeing him in various stages of his plight... In this picture he is eating his lunch before we left the hospital to come home. (Don't worry the urinal is on a different table than his tray)

In the next pictures taken just mere minutes ago, Jeff thought

you'd like to see how how he appears to be a pin cushion. Complete with the expression he deemed worthy of the moment! He said "Honey, I think this is blog-worthy" Right now he is suffering more with shoulder pain that we were told was caused by the gas they used, rather than the actual surgery. He said that is more painful than the appendicitis.

He is home (obviously) less than 24 hours after surgery. He has spent a large portion of his time this morning on his feet, just standing, or walking around. He can breathe better if he is standing. The pain in his shoulder causes him to not be able to breathe well when he is sitting.

I hope no one is offended by the pictures.

Thanks to all of you for praying, and for the calls and messages sent!

Jeff also pointed out that my last two blogs sort of cancelled each other out. I had to laugh. I didn't have much to say, then I am complaining about my week in the very next one! Oh, well. I think I prefer dull!

OK, I'm ready for dull

Oh my goodness this has been some week! I just got home from the hospital about 45 minutes ago. Jeff had to have his appendix removed!We had a terrible scare yesterday thanks to a LOUSY phone scam! (I won't go into it here) I locked my keys in my van on Wednesday..... just a few things to give you the picture! We are in need of PRAYER!!!!!!!!!

Nothing much to say

I have a terrible way of complaining about people not updating their blogs often, and here I am not having updated since September 20...

I can't say I have a lot to blog about at the moment, but I'll give it a "whirl" and maybe something I say will either touch a nerve, or make someone laugh!?

It certainly feels like Fall is here with a vengeance this morning it's cooooold out there! Brrrrrr. I'm sure that that will cause the leaves to turn color more rapidly. I don't think there was frost last night, but it was really cold. I'll try to go out and take a picture of the house and the trees to post on here, just so you can get an idea of what I see on a daily basis.

Since I am mostly done with the canning, I am getting the itch to do some crafty stuff in preparation for Christmas. I have quilting to finish from last year. I pieced a bunch of things to give as gifts, but I never quilted them, so I need to finish those. I also want to get busy in the "guest room". I have yet to even clean it because I have been busy working on canning and meetings for my father to arrange medicaid, and home health care... it's been a pain (rabbit trail) any way, I need to get my creativity flowing again.

I have most of the stuff I need to do the room, I just have to tear off the boarder, scrub the walls, paint here are a few more pictures of the stuff I have collected for the room: The paint color is on the far left it is called Homestead Resort Pale Olive I am using quilts to pick up the colors that I will accent with. These pictures are a bit blurry, but I think you can get the idea. I absolutely loved the way a friend of mine Tina at http://surroundingsdesign-tina.blogspot.com March 4, 2008 posting and her friend Vernita decorated with the quilts. In the picture titled Showcase your collection. I have these three quilts (on the right) I purchase on e-bay, along with three more I already have in the linen cupboard that I intend to use.

I am pretty excited and I hope everything will all come together in actuality, like it is in my head. The furniture that I will use is so far all antique. You can see a portion of the chest of drawers in the above picture, and here are two other pieces I will be using. My great-grandfather made these two

pieces. So far I have everything all stacked up or in the closet here, but I intend to get to it in the next few weeks. I'll post a finished picture when I get it done. I want to have it done by Thanksgiving. Micah will be home along with Jordan and Chris, and that is the room Micah will be staying in. So, I guess that will give me about 7 weeks to finish it. I still need to find twin beds. I have one mattress, but nothing else.

I just remembered that I have an antique rocker in the barn loft that will be a perfect match for the room. It was given to me by an old friend about 20 years ago. Ok, now I am getting excited. I want to go start working on the room, but I can't. I have to go into work at our business. Blah!

Bummer, I need to get moving! Hopefully something of my progress to post soon!

Busy week

I can't imagine that this is all that I accomplished this week. I feels like about ten times more than that. I am so glad to have that done. It will be wonderful this winter!

I ended up with 16 jars of apple butter, yummmm. I also did another batch of tomato juice, I did pickled peppers, one batch of "hot" and one batch of "mild". I then canned chicken. I got 17 pints, although I only processed 16 0f them.

I really like to can. It's one of those things that I can do by myself, with the house all quiet, I can do laundry in between batches, or what ever else I need to do like run the sweeper. All of which I did yesterday between batches.

Yesterday was Micah's 24 Birthday. Wow, he's getting old!

We are so proud of him! We found out that he will be ordained on January 11, 2009, so we'll have to visit Virginia for that! He has quite a testimony, from a shy quiet guy not one to "rock the boat", to a real "boat rocker" in high school. He decided that when he went back to school in his sophomore year he didn't want people to look at him and think about him being Liz's brother, the girl that was murdered. He didn't want their pity! He wanted to be popular, and to be known by his peers. He then started to step out and try some things that we truly had no idea that he was doing.

He was drinking, and we had no idea. He was very good at hiding it. Of course after we moved to the farm, he had his own house, that he referred to as the shed, (I affectionately called it the "chicken house", just to bug him.)

Anyway, he could cover it up pretty well. Parents: don't think "Oh, I'll know if my kids are doing things they shouldn't be." That is what Jeff and I thought. We would certainly notice if our kids are doing things like drinking or drugs. We'd know what to look for since Jeff and I did both things! WRONG. We were so fooled! He continued drinking even at college. He went to a christian college, we thought it was safe there...

There was a "group" of partiers there and he found them.

He did that up until his sophomore year. He started out as a business major, but before his sophomore year began knew that was not what he was called to. He was going to transfer to Mount Vernon Nazarene University, so he could be closer to home and to his girlfriend. (That relationship came to an abrupt end in the spring. Blamed on Micah's poor choices.) After going to MVNU during the summer and signing up for classes, paying the transfer fees, getting roommates and so on, he decided upon leaving MVNU and heading home that he needed to stay at IWU.

I was with him for that trip. It was a "God thing" anyway. While we were there I met a woman named Helen, and that led to sharing my testimony with her. She then asked me if we would be willing to share our testimony at a camp in Crooksville. We agreed, and did so later in the summer. From that point we got another phone call from someone that heard us at that camp, and wanted us to share at their church in Lancaster Ohio. That was a blessing because we had many raised hands at those meetings! God used our visit to MVNU to touch at least 400 lives! Micah allowed God to turn his life around. He changed his major to Worship Leading, and is now on his way to being Worship Pastor! God is good!!!! That's the story in a "nutshell".

Chris now resides in the shed when he is home. It is not much to look at on the outside but really nice inside.

Needless to say, our children are less than perfect (don't tell them that) and we most assuredly are far less than perfect parents, but God uses willing vessels. As the saying goes "God does not call the equipped, He equips the called". Glory to God!

If I have lost you somewhere along the line...Sorry! I do have a habit of going off an rabbit trails.,.,.,.,.,

See, here is further proof: Did anyone see the sky this morning? It was beautiful. I know "red sky at night sailors delight, red sky at morning sailors take warning" or something close to that. But honestly is was awe inspiring.

GLORIOUS!!!!