We had a very nice "candle light" Christmas Eve service at church. I had wondered how we would deal with the candle part when we can't have open flames in the school gym.... The candles were electric candles :) With the lights off, two or three strategically placed spotlights and the electric candles, we had a very nice mood. We also had treats so I grabbed a baby cheesecake dealie (in a cupcake wrapper) and told many peeps Merry Christmas after we were dismissed and had to make sure I didn't smush the cheesecake into them. When I got home Butler and I watched "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" which was really pretty good - it just came out on DVD this week.
Christmas morning I headed to Pella to be there in time to go to church with Dad. I have to give Dad a hard time because church starts at 9:30 and he always gets there at 9:00....and he lives like five blocks away from the church. Wow. I like to be early but my early is 15 minutes not 30 :) Dad introduced me to the gentleman that worked at Hospice and that had sat with Mom and Dad a while before Mom passed and was in the room with Dad when Mom passed - he seemed like a very nice man and it was nice to meet him. Dad introduced me to some folks and I said "hi" to some that I already knew.
We got back to Dad's apartment and I looked at the Christmas cards he'd received and ordered Casey's pizza. By the time I finished looking at his cards it was time to pick up the pizza. After we ate we opened presents. Dad had used several gift bags for my things but no tissue paper so I could look right into the bag to see what I was getting. I gave him a hard time after we were finished opening presents telling him that the bags were a surprise - I figured my gifts would be in plastic WalMart bags :) There was a box he had wrapped that the tag said it was from Mom that when I saw it, it kind of got to me and he told me to open that gift last. We won't know until we get to Heaven to ask Mom if she just planned ahead or if she had a feeling she needed to get part of my Christmas gift ready before she went into the hospital the first of June, but it was really awesome to get that gift.
My absolute favorite Christmas song is John Berry's (country) version of "O Holy Night" that he recorded a few years ago. I haven't listened to my country radio station since I started attending Living Waters - I listen to a Christian station - and I hadn't heard this version this year. Well, I hadn't needed to use my alarm for a while but had to use it Sunday to make sure I got up in plenty of time to get to Pella on time. My alarm radio is still tuned to KJJY (country) and guess what song was ending when my alarm went off - John Berry's "O Holy Night". Right at the ending with all the great high notes. I was in seventh heaven. Then later Christmas night I was flipping channels on the tv and with Dish TV I have some radio stations with one being a Latino station. As I was going through the radio channels I said to Butler, "you know, I haven't heard "Feliz Navidad" this year" and guess what was coming on the Latino radio station? Yep, "Feliz Navidad". Now it wasn't Jose Feliciano's version (think Taco Bell Christmas song) but I still really got into singing along with it anyway.
Yesterday I called my timeshare organization to ask some questions because I had switched my timeshare from weeks to points this past September when I was on vacation. Well, the consultant had a hard time finding my new points membership in the system and finally figured out it was because M.D. (Mike) and Veronda were on the weeks membership but only Veronda was on the points membership. You wouldn't think I'd still need to send off Mike's death certificate after 1 year, 8 months and 3 days but guess what I was faxing to the timeshare place to link my memberships in the system? They needed Mike's death certificate to take him off the weeks membership so it could link to my points membership.
I don't watch football and I'm not a Cyclone fan but right now I am - I'm watching the bowl game they are playing in that's in Yankee Stadium. But evidently I'm not paying close enough attention because once I looked and the score was 3-0 Iowa State and now it's 6-0 Iowa State and I have no idea when they got the field goals. The Hawkeye bowl game starts at 9:00 p.m. tonight.................
I'm going to meet my one friend for another estate sale tomorrow morning at the actual house and may go with another friend to an early afternoon movie. But no plans for celebrating New Year's Eve. That's one of the "holidays" that bothers me a little - welcoming in the new year without Mike with me. We usually stayed home New Year's Eve because Mike said that was the night all the amateur's were out celebrating big time (read drinking like crazy) that didn't do that the rest of the year and they would be insane behind the wheel of a car.
Wow, Rutgers just got a good non-call to let them get a touchdown instead of trying for a field goal......now it's 6-7 Rutgers.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Friday, December 23, 2011
Movies
I decided I wanted to go to a movie today....."We Bought A Zoo". But more about that later.
I've been wondering about the black squirrel across the street in the park because I hadn't seen him for a while. Today as I pulled out to head to the movie I saw him, partially across the park and it made me smile. I still hope I get to take a picture of him for a memory.
Then on the way home from the movie as I came the "back way" on Fuller Road I checked the big, open area close to Public Works for deer like I always do this time of year. I was thinking it was too early in the day for them to be out (4:00 pm) but I was wrong. I had to pull over to watch them for a few minutes and I counted 12 deer grazing. It was so neat.
When I was at my sis-in-law's a week ago Sunday everyone was talking about the cartoon movie "Up" and how cute it was. Guess what was on last Saturday night on tv - "Up" - so I thought I'd watch it. Ok, the movie was cute but my family forgot to mention that it was slightly sad at the beginning because the elderly wife of the "old man" in the movie had died. Of course that made me emotional and I'm thinking, "crap I'm crying for a cartoon (thinking about Mike)." But the movie was really cute after that part.
And I've been asked if I watched "Marley and Me" Monday night. If you've seen my Facebook wall you already know the answer to that - yes I did. And how many kleenex I went through at the end :) First this is a very good movie but as most dog movies go - the end is horribly sad. One friend told me that when this movie was at the theater, people were crying in their seats and women were leaving before the movie was over. Well, it's a good thing I didn't see it at the theater because when Marley started to have his issues I said something like, "Oh no!" and the wailing began. Owen Wilson did a very good acting performance at the vet's office when he had to put Marley to sleep. He did exactly what I've done when we put Lucy down and I put Milly down. I really looked at them for the last time running my hand over their body, paying special attention to their tail and paws. The only difference was our dogs were on mats on the floor, not on a table so I was down on the floor with both of them, next to their face talking to them and letting them smell me to know I was near them - telling them they were the best dog. When we had to put two of the cats down (Babe and Smokey) I held them in my lap. Anyway, I'm wailing, hugging Butler and going through kleenex left and right at the end of the movie. But at least now I can say I've seen it.
So then I thought of two things I do for Butler. Whenever I leave I put his male wrap aka Speedo on so in case he has an accident while I'm gone, it's contained. Well I used to put a maxi pad inside the Speedo for extra absorbency when one day it hit me - buy Poise instead. Duh - they're made to soak up human urine. Poise is kind of like a NASCAR race car - it doesn't know the gender of the driver driving the car, it just knows it has a driver. Poise doesn't know if it's human urine or dog urine it's absorbing, it just knows it's suppose to absorb urine. But the interesting part is walking through WalMart with the largest, super-duper size of the ultra absorbent WalMart brand of Poise in my cart or arms and think, "these people probably think this is for me and they're not, they're for my dog......"
I've been wondering about the black squirrel across the street in the park because I hadn't seen him for a while. Today as I pulled out to head to the movie I saw him, partially across the park and it made me smile. I still hope I get to take a picture of him for a memory.
Then on the way home from the movie as I came the "back way" on Fuller Road I checked the big, open area close to Public Works for deer like I always do this time of year. I was thinking it was too early in the day for them to be out (4:00 pm) but I was wrong. I had to pull over to watch them for a few minutes and I counted 12 deer grazing. It was so neat.
When I was at my sis-in-law's a week ago Sunday everyone was talking about the cartoon movie "Up" and how cute it was. Guess what was on last Saturday night on tv - "Up" - so I thought I'd watch it. Ok, the movie was cute but my family forgot to mention that it was slightly sad at the beginning because the elderly wife of the "old man" in the movie had died. Of course that made me emotional and I'm thinking, "crap I'm crying for a cartoon (thinking about Mike)." But the movie was really cute after that part.
And I've been asked if I watched "Marley and Me" Monday night. If you've seen my Facebook wall you already know the answer to that - yes I did. And how many kleenex I went through at the end :) First this is a very good movie but as most dog movies go - the end is horribly sad. One friend told me that when this movie was at the theater, people were crying in their seats and women were leaving before the movie was over. Well, it's a good thing I didn't see it at the theater because when Marley started to have his issues I said something like, "Oh no!" and the wailing began. Owen Wilson did a very good acting performance at the vet's office when he had to put Marley to sleep. He did exactly what I've done when we put Lucy down and I put Milly down. I really looked at them for the last time running my hand over their body, paying special attention to their tail and paws. The only difference was our dogs were on mats on the floor, not on a table so I was down on the floor with both of them, next to their face talking to them and letting them smell me to know I was near them - telling them they were the best dog. When we had to put two of the cats down (Babe and Smokey) I held them in my lap. Anyway, I'm wailing, hugging Butler and going through kleenex left and right at the end of the movie. But at least now I can say I've seen it.
So then I thought of two things I do for Butler. Whenever I leave I put his male wrap aka Speedo on so in case he has an accident while I'm gone, it's contained. Well I used to put a maxi pad inside the Speedo for extra absorbency when one day it hit me - buy Poise instead. Duh - they're made to soak up human urine. Poise is kind of like a NASCAR race car - it doesn't know the gender of the driver driving the car, it just knows it has a driver. Poise doesn't know if it's human urine or dog urine it's absorbing, it just knows it's suppose to absorb urine. But the interesting part is walking through WalMart with the largest, super-duper size of the ultra absorbent WalMart brand of Poise in my cart or arms and think, "these people probably think this is for me and they're not, they're for my dog......"
Doesn't Butler look "happy" to be wearing his Speedo :) And the other thing I do is some times follow him around the living room to put this on him before I leave. Sometimes he stands very patiently for me to put it on him and to duct tape it to him and sometimes he takes off on me. I've gotten pretty good putting the Speedo on and taping "on the run". I duct tape so Butler can't work the Speedo down to "free Willy" and leave me a surprise when I get home.
But the ultimate of Butler love was the other morning when I was letting him in after going out first thing and while waiting for me to open the door up to the kitchen Butler pooped on my foot. Thankfully I had a sock on. So there I am trying to reach over Butler, up three stairs to open the kitchen door and not move my foot so the poo turd doesn't fall off it. Luckily I had a poo bag on the landing we were standing on in the back stairway so once Butler was in the kitchen I could open the bag andhop on one foot to plop the poo turd into it.
So......"We Bought A Zoo" is a definite must see. You'll get caught up in the story of Matt Damon's family as they deal with the zoo they bought and the people that work at the zoo. You'll laugh and you may shed a tear in one part but you leave with a warm fuzzy feeling. And a personal note from me - Matt did a very good job in some scenes that hit very close to home. It was like he had asked for my advice on how he should perform. He's such a good actor.
This is one of my favorite pictures ever. Christmas '65 at Grandma and Grandpa Hill's - me and all my cousins except Gary who wasn't born until '70. Such a simpler time. I love that all the girls are wearing dresses and the whole look/feel of the picture. You just don't see pictures like this any more.
Merry Christmas!
Monday, December 19, 2011
Christmas Program and Listing
Hmmm....been a couple of weeks since I blogged. Last Sunday I was on the go from when I left home at 9:20ish for church until I got home at 6:15ish and didn't feel like blogging. After church I left our membership meeting early to head to Newton for Thanksgiving/Christmas/birthday at my sis-in-law's with her, my niece and her two boys, and my oldest and hubby. We had a good time eating, visiting and looking at pictures. Then I headed to my Creative Memory consultant's house in Johnston to see the latest version of CM's digital scrapbook software - then finally got home to deal with Butler, eat and watch the finale of "The Amazing Race".
The Wednesday before that our small group put the Bread on the Water boxes and laundry baskets together with food and toiletry items for 20 families that belonged or had regularly visited our church. Pictures of the fun and wild chaos that ensued bringing all the items up from my small group leader's basement into his garage to box and then take back down to his basement for storage until last Sunday are at the end of this blog. The boxes and laundry baskets were delivered last Monday and Tuesday.
This past Wednesday night our small group gathered for our white elephant Christmas gift exchange and food. I didn't really have a white elephant gift so headed to my favorite "white elephant gift" store - Tuesday Morning and found the perfect item - but forgot to take a picture of it. Highlights were my small group leader getting a large roll of wire and one of the older men in his group of things getting the "Girlfriends Guide to Pregnancy".
Saturday I helped decorate the school's gym for our Christmas program. I hadn't decorated a Christmas tree in forever. Mike and I put the tree up the last time when we had just the two cats Babe and Smokey and that was over 20 years ago. I was definitely out of practice and my ribbon layering on the first tree showed it :) Pictures of setup and the kidlets during the program are below. Pastor Josh told all of us that when the first group of little kids (the Puddles group) got on stage to keep the camera flashing to a minimum - it wasn't the Super Bowl :)
I needed to get to church early yesterday to put the candy cane Christmas tree together but when I got there some of the guys had already done that for me. And they told me the tree didn't have a base so they duct taped the tree to some wooden frame they made and came up with a "skirt" to hide all their fixings. When the song service started Barb and I headed out to place the candy canes on the tree. As we were doing that, I noticed the tree starting to list and I said, "the tree is listing." People looked at me and said, "what's that mean?" I'm thinking to myself - really?? So I said, "the tree is leaning to the right." Then they got it - wow. So between more duct tape and rope the tree was secured so it wouldn't fall over during the service. Then Barb and I handed out candy canes to the kids as they were leaving. As I left Pastor Josh grabbed me and I told him about the tree listing and he's like, "it was leaning?" and I said I was glad he knew what listing meant :)
Saturday evening we are having a Christmas Eve service which I'm excited about. I think the bulletin said candlelight Christmas Eve service? But I don't think fire is allowed in the school gym.......
Tonight "Marley and Me" is on tv. Mike and I never watched it because we couldn't - it's a dog movie and everyone knows how dog movies end. I always said if I posted on Facebook it was a "Marley and Me" night that meant I had put Butler down and I was already so upset I might as well watch the movie and cry for Butler and Marley at the same time. So I'm thinking about watching the movie tonight - and hugging Butler like crazy as I cry - and then again maybe I won't watch the movie.
Enjoy the pix.
The next blog will be Christmas or after so I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas!
The Wednesday before that our small group put the Bread on the Water boxes and laundry baskets together with food and toiletry items for 20 families that belonged or had regularly visited our church. Pictures of the fun and wild chaos that ensued bringing all the items up from my small group leader's basement into his garage to box and then take back down to his basement for storage until last Sunday are at the end of this blog. The boxes and laundry baskets were delivered last Monday and Tuesday.
This past Wednesday night our small group gathered for our white elephant Christmas gift exchange and food. I didn't really have a white elephant gift so headed to my favorite "white elephant gift" store - Tuesday Morning and found the perfect item - but forgot to take a picture of it. Highlights were my small group leader getting a large roll of wire and one of the older men in his group of things getting the "Girlfriends Guide to Pregnancy".
Saturday I helped decorate the school's gym for our Christmas program. I hadn't decorated a Christmas tree in forever. Mike and I put the tree up the last time when we had just the two cats Babe and Smokey and that was over 20 years ago. I was definitely out of practice and my ribbon layering on the first tree showed it :) Pictures of setup and the kidlets during the program are below. Pastor Josh told all of us that when the first group of little kids (the Puddles group) got on stage to keep the camera flashing to a minimum - it wasn't the Super Bowl :)
I needed to get to church early yesterday to put the candy cane Christmas tree together but when I got there some of the guys had already done that for me. And they told me the tree didn't have a base so they duct taped the tree to some wooden frame they made and came up with a "skirt" to hide all their fixings. When the song service started Barb and I headed out to place the candy canes on the tree. As we were doing that, I noticed the tree starting to list and I said, "the tree is listing." People looked at me and said, "what's that mean?" I'm thinking to myself - really?? So I said, "the tree is leaning to the right." Then they got it - wow. So between more duct tape and rope the tree was secured so it wouldn't fall over during the service. Then Barb and I handed out candy canes to the kids as they were leaving. As I left Pastor Josh grabbed me and I told him about the tree listing and he's like, "it was leaning?" and I said I was glad he knew what listing meant :)
Saturday evening we are having a Christmas Eve service which I'm excited about. I think the bulletin said candlelight Christmas Eve service? But I don't think fire is allowed in the school gym.......
Tonight "Marley and Me" is on tv. Mike and I never watched it because we couldn't - it's a dog movie and everyone knows how dog movies end. I always said if I posted on Facebook it was a "Marley and Me" night that meant I had put Butler down and I was already so upset I might as well watch the movie and cry for Butler and Marley at the same time. So I'm thinking about watching the movie tonight - and hugging Butler like crazy as I cry - and then again maybe I won't watch the movie.
Enjoy the pix.
The next blog will be Christmas or after so I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas!
Food and toiletry items were everywhere in the spare bedroom!
Then they were everywhere in the garage :)
Back in the spare bedroom boxed and ready to go.
A week ago Sunday morning with all the boxes and laundry baskets in front of the church.
Some of the Christmas decorations for yesterday's Christmas program.
Our youngest kidlets - Puddles.
This is the group I help with crafts - WAVES!
Our oldest children's ministry group - Dive.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Funnies and Things That Make You Go "Hmmmmm"
Sunday Pastor preached the last half of Luke 2 where Mary, Joseph and Jesus went to Jerusalem when Jesus was 12 and how Mary and Joseph lost Jesus after they had started back for home. They finally found Jesus in the temple teaching the scholars. Well Pastor wanted to put it into perspective what it was like to be 12 so he told some things that were going on in his life when he was 12 and one was that was the midst of the Chicago Bulls going for their first three championship titles. Pastor knows I have a shrine to the Bulls - he actually sits next to it when he visits and drools. Anyway he looks at me and says, "Roni can I get an amen for that (the Bulls)" which of course I shouted out with glee. Hey we amen the Hawkeyes, and Cyclones at our church - why not Da Bulls :)
I think the rest of the funnies are Butler stories.
Ok - tell me how an older, crippled up dog that his back legs hardly work can lay on the bed and if he is positioned just right when he started to dream and he is running - those same, useless back legs can kick the crap out of my legs so hard it hurts??? He's done this more than once and I'm thinking if those old legs work good enough to kick like that - they should be working good enough for you to walk ok........
I've found a game on my laptop that I am HOOKED on - Christmas Ornament Smash. It's kind of like Tetrus I think? And it plays Jingle Bells over and over and over. The first night I played it - for like two hours - Butler was laying on the bed and finally raised his head to look at me as if to say "Mom, PLEASE STOP THE MUSIC!!!!" I tried to play the game without the music and it's just not the same - so I make sure I can just hear Jingle Bells and Butler can't.
I'm starting now when I carry Butler downstairs to grab something easy to carry/grasp in my hand that is sitting on top of the book shelf by the stairs. As I zero in on the book shelf to grab whatever the items is - Butler starts to stick his legs out to make sure I don't bash him into the book shelf.......
And the other day I carried him the other way down the stairs and it really threw him for a loop. When I first started carrying him down the stairs his face would be toward the wall because most of his weight would be carried by my left arm - but then I hurt my left arm/shoulder so I started carrying him with his face toward the railing with my right arm carrying most of his weight. So the other day his face was toward the wall and I guess he didn't like that view because he was wiggling and flailing all the way down the stairs - goofball.
Sometimes Butler can get up ok from laying on the bed to jump down to get food or water and sometimes he needs help getting up so he can jump down. It never fails - the times he needs help getting up - I usually have to get the laptop off my lap and then help him up. Then I sit back down and put the laptop back on my lap - I should learn..... Butler gets down and goes to his water bowl for one or two quick licks of water and he's done. Then he looks at me to help get him back on the bed - so I have to get the laptop back off my lap........
Once-in-a-while I'll buy Butler a doggie treat like a Dentabone or something so I got him a treat at WalMart yesterday. He just stares at me until I get the package opened and give it to him. Mike and I used to laugh that no matter what - he could eat one of those in five minutes so I thought - wonder if he still can eat it in five minutes at his age. The answer: less than five minutes and it was all gone - no crumbs anywhere.
I've learned to not pet Butler while I'm feeding him food - especially the crust from my toast or sandwich because he thinks my fingers are crust and tries to eat them...............
I've also learned to not feed him very many nuts at a time. Dad had bought me a big bag of trail mix at WalMart on Thanksgiving - the trail mix with the chocolate pieces. So I'd get a handful of trail mix, eat the chocolate pieces and raisins and give Butler the handful of nuts. I did this for like two days in a row - feeding him fairly quickly handful after handful. Don't do that trust me. Needless-to-say a couple of days later Butler's poo was of a different consistency that was pretty chunky aka little nut piece sizes. That was fun to pick up after - not.
And lastly the other morning I got Butler's speedo off the book shelf and sat on the bed, laying the speedo next to me, to wake Butler up - he was really sleeping soundly. I finally get him woken up, and help him up, and reach for the speedo - it's not there. Great. Someone is going to start peeing really quickly now so I take my left hand and press a certain male doggy part up next to his tummy to try to keep him from peeing as I stretch myself to the right, using my right hand to flip bed sheets left and right and up and down looking for the speedo. No speedo - where in the world did it go???? By then my grip with my left hand is slipping (and getting a little wet) so I let go of Butler and luckily he doesn't pee very much. I'm trying to figure out where in the world the speedo could have gone and some how my right hand brushes my behind and feels something. Butler's speedo had velcroed itself to my pajama bottom.
That's my life :)
I think the rest of the funnies are Butler stories.
Ok - tell me how an older, crippled up dog that his back legs hardly work can lay on the bed and if he is positioned just right when he started to dream and he is running - those same, useless back legs can kick the crap out of my legs so hard it hurts??? He's done this more than once and I'm thinking if those old legs work good enough to kick like that - they should be working good enough for you to walk ok........
I've found a game on my laptop that I am HOOKED on - Christmas Ornament Smash. It's kind of like Tetrus I think? And it plays Jingle Bells over and over and over. The first night I played it - for like two hours - Butler was laying on the bed and finally raised his head to look at me as if to say "Mom, PLEASE STOP THE MUSIC!!!!" I tried to play the game without the music and it's just not the same - so I make sure I can just hear Jingle Bells and Butler can't.
I'm starting now when I carry Butler downstairs to grab something easy to carry/grasp in my hand that is sitting on top of the book shelf by the stairs. As I zero in on the book shelf to grab whatever the items is - Butler starts to stick his legs out to make sure I don't bash him into the book shelf.......
And the other day I carried him the other way down the stairs and it really threw him for a loop. When I first started carrying him down the stairs his face would be toward the wall because most of his weight would be carried by my left arm - but then I hurt my left arm/shoulder so I started carrying him with his face toward the railing with my right arm carrying most of his weight. So the other day his face was toward the wall and I guess he didn't like that view because he was wiggling and flailing all the way down the stairs - goofball.
Sometimes Butler can get up ok from laying on the bed to jump down to get food or water and sometimes he needs help getting up so he can jump down. It never fails - the times he needs help getting up - I usually have to get the laptop off my lap and then help him up. Then I sit back down and put the laptop back on my lap - I should learn..... Butler gets down and goes to his water bowl for one or two quick licks of water and he's done. Then he looks at me to help get him back on the bed - so I have to get the laptop back off my lap........
Once-in-a-while I'll buy Butler a doggie treat like a Dentabone or something so I got him a treat at WalMart yesterday. He just stares at me until I get the package opened and give it to him. Mike and I used to laugh that no matter what - he could eat one of those in five minutes so I thought - wonder if he still can eat it in five minutes at his age. The answer: less than five minutes and it was all gone - no crumbs anywhere.
I've learned to not pet Butler while I'm feeding him food - especially the crust from my toast or sandwich because he thinks my fingers are crust and tries to eat them...............
I've also learned to not feed him very many nuts at a time. Dad had bought me a big bag of trail mix at WalMart on Thanksgiving - the trail mix with the chocolate pieces. So I'd get a handful of trail mix, eat the chocolate pieces and raisins and give Butler the handful of nuts. I did this for like two days in a row - feeding him fairly quickly handful after handful. Don't do that trust me. Needless-to-say a couple of days later Butler's poo was of a different consistency that was pretty chunky aka little nut piece sizes. That was fun to pick up after - not.
And lastly the other morning I got Butler's speedo off the book shelf and sat on the bed, laying the speedo next to me, to wake Butler up - he was really sleeping soundly. I finally get him woken up, and help him up, and reach for the speedo - it's not there. Great. Someone is going to start peeing really quickly now so I take my left hand and press a certain male doggy part up next to his tummy to try to keep him from peeing as I stretch myself to the right, using my right hand to flip bed sheets left and right and up and down looking for the speedo. No speedo - where in the world did it go???? By then my grip with my left hand is slipping (and getting a little wet) so I let go of Butler and luckily he doesn't pee very much. I'm trying to figure out where in the world the speedo could have gone and some how my right hand brushes my behind and feels something. Butler's speedo had velcroed itself to my pajama bottom.
That's my life :)
Butler and his speedo
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Thanksgiving and More
Well I was lazy last week and didn't blog so I've got some catching up to do.
Our small group met the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving but didn't do a Bible study - we fellowshipped and played Mad Gab - what a riot. We split into two teams with one team saying what is actually on the card and figure out what saying, person's name, place, etc., they are saying. One team member holds up the card so they can see the true saying and laughs - along with the other team - at the team members repeating over and over what the front of the card says because everyone can "hear" what the saying is except for the team guessing it. All I can remember to give as an example is "wee nurse" was part of Oscar Meyer weiners. Wee nurse - say it really fast and it becomes weiners. We laughed and laughed and laughed during that game.
Dad and I celebrated Thanksgiving on Thanksgiving and the weather was awesome! After visiting for a little bit we headed out to buy Dad's items for his contribution to Bread on the Waters and then to a local restaurant that was open for a Thanksgiving turkey dinner with all the trimmings. The food helpings were so huge we had to take our pieces of pumpkin pie home with us :)
I spent that Friday finishing up my Christmas cards and getting them in the mail on Saturday. I know if I don't get them done the weekend of Thanksgiving I'll probably not get them done at all. And it was my second year to do them without Mike. It wasn't as weird has last year doing them by myself but still was a little lonely.
This past Thursday evening was the first of Valley Junction's three Holiday Open Houses and a good friend from church went with me to it - and it was spitting snow so that helped get us in the Christmas spirit. We ate at the Tavern and then headed out to check out the shops, eat some treats and even got our picture taken with Santa. Luckily the snow didn't amount to anything.
Yesterday was a blucky, gloomy, grey day so Butler and I were lazy. I didn't do my normal Saturday errands (library and grocery store). We stayed huddled on the bed most of the day and I read the latest Tom Clancy novel "Against All Enemies". Last night was our church's first women's Christmas meal/program called Rejoice. Last year when I went to Rejoice we partnered with our mother church (Saylorville Baptist) to attend their celebration. This year we had our own and it was very, very nice. The decorations, food and program were excellent.
Today I woke up and looked out the window at the roof and thought it looked whiter than normal - yep - a light dusting of snow. But again no accumulation - thank goodness. Off to church for the last Sunday for everyone to bring in their food items for Bread in the Waters and it was crazy before service checking in all the items. Wednesday night we'll put the boxes together.
Our small group met the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving but didn't do a Bible study - we fellowshipped and played Mad Gab - what a riot. We split into two teams with one team saying what is actually on the card and figure out what saying, person's name, place, etc., they are saying. One team member holds up the card so they can see the true saying and laughs - along with the other team - at the team members repeating over and over what the front of the card says because everyone can "hear" what the saying is except for the team guessing it. All I can remember to give as an example is "wee nurse" was part of Oscar Meyer weiners. Wee nurse - say it really fast and it becomes weiners. We laughed and laughed and laughed during that game.
Dad and I celebrated Thanksgiving on Thanksgiving and the weather was awesome! After visiting for a little bit we headed out to buy Dad's items for his contribution to Bread on the Waters and then to a local restaurant that was open for a Thanksgiving turkey dinner with all the trimmings. The food helpings were so huge we had to take our pieces of pumpkin pie home with us :)
I spent that Friday finishing up my Christmas cards and getting them in the mail on Saturday. I know if I don't get them done the weekend of Thanksgiving I'll probably not get them done at all. And it was my second year to do them without Mike. It wasn't as weird has last year doing them by myself but still was a little lonely.
This past Thursday evening was the first of Valley Junction's three Holiday Open Houses and a good friend from church went with me to it - and it was spitting snow so that helped get us in the Christmas spirit. We ate at the Tavern and then headed out to check out the shops, eat some treats and even got our picture taken with Santa. Luckily the snow didn't amount to anything.
Yesterday was a blucky, gloomy, grey day so Butler and I were lazy. I didn't do my normal Saturday errands (library and grocery store). We stayed huddled on the bed most of the day and I read the latest Tom Clancy novel "Against All Enemies". Last night was our church's first women's Christmas meal/program called Rejoice. Last year when I went to Rejoice we partnered with our mother church (Saylorville Baptist) to attend their celebration. This year we had our own and it was very, very nice. The decorations, food and program were excellent.
Today I woke up and looked out the window at the roof and thought it looked whiter than normal - yep - a light dusting of snow. But again no accumulation - thank goodness. Off to church for the last Sunday for everyone to bring in their food items for Bread in the Waters and it was crazy before service checking in all the items. Wednesday night we'll put the boxes together.
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