Okay, I know I've not posted for about 2 weeks and I'm way overdue to catch up on things. That seems to be the norm nowadays - trying to catch up! It seems as if I'm one step behind everything that needs to be done. It's frustrating!
Not this past weekend but the weekend before, we had two of our grandsons, Niland (5) and Benny (3) stay overnight Saturday night. It was so much fun to have the 2 boys; they are bundles of energy that are difficult to contain! There was a glitch in their stay when Benny's arm started hurting while he was in the tub, and Niland said, "He's had his sore arm before, Nana." Well, that little boy wouldn't move that arm for anything, not even to eat a snack! He cried some, but not a lot, and went to sleep with his arm under his pajama top, held tight against his tummy. So I called my son, his dad, and discovered that Benny's elbow had come out of the socket. This has happened about 2 dozen times before. Now it was up to me to get it back in the socket.
After getting instructions from my son, I went in to a sleeping Benny, lifted his shirt, straightened his arm (at which point he started to whimper), turned his palm up, and bent his arm as if he were doing a bicep curl. I felt the elbow pop back in; maybe I heard it too, but there was no question that it had gone back in the socket. Benny stopped his soft cries and continued sleeping. I called my son and told him all was well, and in the morning, Benny triumphantly held his arm straight up in the air. I was so relieved.
This last Friday my 2 children and all of theirs came over after work, and we celebrated my oldest grandson Luke's 14th birthday. Already standing at almost 5'11", Luke looks a lot older than he is. He's a great cousin to my son's boys, who are 9+ years younger than him. On October 18 my mother-in-law turned 90 years old, and we gathered again on Saturday at the assisted living place where she lives to celebrate that milestone. I realized that if I live to be 90, Luke will be 41, my daughter will be 70, and my son will be 67. My mother-in-law is doing well both physically and mentally, although she no longer drives or lives by herself. We're grateful for the many years God has granted her.
This coming weekend my husband and I will be heading to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, so he can participate in District Competition with his Barbershop Harmony Society group from Raleigh. I just heard the weather forecast, and the possibility of a tropical system touching the coast by Saturday is a possibility. Not a good thing. And the following weekend we will be heading north to Harper's Ferry, West Virginia, for a visit with my brother and his wife who have moved there from Alaska. It's so nice to have them so close now and in the same time zone!
So life is forever busy! Book ideas are spinning in my head, but I don't have enough time to outline any or to sit and write at this point in my life. However, I am counting the days until I can retire - 1054 days (give or take a day or two)! Some people may not look forward to retirement, but I certainly am! I'll have plenty to keep me busy. I just pray that God grants me enough years to enjoy it, to spend time with my children and grandchildren, and to write a sequel to "Amanda's Hope." Seems like there's a story to tell about Delilah.
Monday, October 22, 2012
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Success at Last
Our rainy Saturday sent us home from our campsite, where we napped, rested, and hung around our dry house until evening. Then we went to a movie, which we don't often do because there's never much worth paying money to see. After the movie, we got Chinese and then went to bed in our dry beds. If the campsite had been a great distance from our home, we would have toughed out the rainy day and been fine, but since we were so close to home, we opted to go home for the day.
Sunday morning dawned with the sun breaking through the clouds. By the time breakfast was over, the skies were blue with hardly a cloud in sight. We headed back to the campsite and found our tent surrounded on one end with water. A few very small puddles had formed inside the tent. We turned on a space heater and fan inside the tent to start the drying out process. Now that the rain had actually ended, things would be able to dry before we had to pack them away. Bob and I left the campsite and headed toward the lake and took a short hike close to the water. We spotted a great blue heron, which landed on a dead tree limb close to the water's edge, and were able to get some good photos. Wild mushrooms abounded, some looking like sponges in the ocean. Mosses carpeted the forest floor. Rays of sun filtered through the trees, shafts of light illuminating the leaves, twigs and pine needles on the ground. Waterfalls trickled over rocks, tumbling to join the waters of the lake. The hike was a feast for our senses.
After sitting on the water's edge for a time, we returned to the campsite and prepared lunch. Our son and his family soon arrived, and the two little boys were so excited. We did some fishing, but only as much as 3-year-old Benny could handle. He just didn't understand that you don't reel in your line as soon as you throw it out!
Returning to the campsite, we made pie iron pizzas and grilled cheese sandwiches, and we toasted marshmallows. The smoke in our eyes didn't even bother us. We were camping! And it wasn't raining!
When it came time to break camp, the boys pitched in and helped by pulling out stakes and putting them in bags and assisted us with taking down the fiberglass tent poles. They carried things to the truck. They were so excited to help Nana and Papa Bob take down their tent, but now they really, really want to go camping overnight! God redeemed our rainy Saturday with His gorgeous Sunday!
Our next camping trip will not be preplanned but will be a spur-of-the-moment, let's-go-camping-now decision. If that doesn't happen this year, we'll do it next spring. In the meantime, the firepit on the backyard will have to suffice for toasting marshmallows and getting smoke in our eyes.
Sunday morning dawned with the sun breaking through the clouds. By the time breakfast was over, the skies were blue with hardly a cloud in sight. We headed back to the campsite and found our tent surrounded on one end with water. A few very small puddles had formed inside the tent. We turned on a space heater and fan inside the tent to start the drying out process. Now that the rain had actually ended, things would be able to dry before we had to pack them away. Bob and I left the campsite and headed toward the lake and took a short hike close to the water. We spotted a great blue heron, which landed on a dead tree limb close to the water's edge, and were able to get some good photos. Wild mushrooms abounded, some looking like sponges in the ocean. Mosses carpeted the forest floor. Rays of sun filtered through the trees, shafts of light illuminating the leaves, twigs and pine needles on the ground. Waterfalls trickled over rocks, tumbling to join the waters of the lake. The hike was a feast for our senses.
After sitting on the water's edge for a time, we returned to the campsite and prepared lunch. Our son and his family soon arrived, and the two little boys were so excited. We did some fishing, but only as much as 3-year-old Benny could handle. He just didn't understand that you don't reel in your line as soon as you throw it out!
Returning to the campsite, we made pie iron pizzas and grilled cheese sandwiches, and we toasted marshmallows. The smoke in our eyes didn't even bother us. We were camping! And it wasn't raining!
When it came time to break camp, the boys pitched in and helped by pulling out stakes and putting them in bags and assisted us with taking down the fiberglass tent poles. They carried things to the truck. They were so excited to help Nana and Papa Bob take down their tent, but now they really, really want to go camping overnight! God redeemed our rainy Saturday with His gorgeous Sunday!
Our next camping trip will not be preplanned but will be a spur-of-the-moment, let's-go-camping-now decision. If that doesn't happen this year, we'll do it next spring. In the meantime, the firepit on the backyard will have to suffice for toasting marshmallows and getting smoke in our eyes.
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Disappointed
I'm sure everyone has looked forward to something with great anticipation only to be disappointed. Well, I"m disappointed right now. I'm home sitting at this computer and not at our campsite on Fall's Lake. Oh, our stuff is there, but we're not because the rain won't stop. We had a beautiful day yesterday with temperatures climbing into the 80's, and the forecast was for a 30% chance of showers last night and a 50% chance today, so we thought we'd take a chance on going to the campsite and not cancelling our reservation made several weeks ago. So I took the day off, gathered all the gear and food, and we headed out mid-afternoon. After setting up camp, we were just about to eat dinner when the rain started falling; it had been sunny only an hour earlier. We quickly stretched a tarp over our screened tent over the picnic table or we would have gotten soaked while eating. The rain continued unabated through the night, tossing in one pretty good thunderstorm that woke us up. In the morning, our tent was sitting in about an inch of water. Thankfully, our air mattress was on top of 2 cots, so we were dry, but the water had made the soil under the tent mushy and had ponded at one end of the tent.
My disappointment doesn't some so much that we're not camping but that our grandsons won't get the experience. Two of them were going to join us today and spend tonight in another tent, which we thankfully had not yet set up. With a stream of showers heading in our direction, Bob and I decided to come home (the campsite is only 13 miles away) and take it easy in our dry house. I fixed bacon and eggs on our camp stove and brewed coffee for breakfast, but I was literally standing in an inch of mud as the rain continued to fall after a break in the wee hours of the morning. Those conditions were no place for a 10-year-old, a 5-year-old and a 3-year-old. The fishing and canoeing that we had planned aren't happening, and I'm bummed.
We'll be going to our son's house for dinner, and a tent will be erected in the play room over the garage for the kids to sleep in to ease their disappointment. The boys especially have been talking about nothing else for the last week - camping with Nana and sleeping in a tent. I'll leave the loaf of cinnamon raisin bread that I made so they can have French toast with it in the morning.
Bob and I will return to the campsite tomorrow morning; the rain is supposed to end tonight, but I don't want to sleep in a wet tent standing in mud. We may fix breakfast there if things have dried out enough, but we'll have to dismantle the campsite even if things are still wet. Our son and the boys will join us if the weather has broken, and maybe we'll get in some fishing, canoeing, and cooking over the campfire before we have to vacate the site.
No more long-range planning of camping trips for me. If it's a nice weekend, we'll simply go for one night on the spur of the moment. November in North Carolina can be quite nice temperature wise. In the meantime, Bob is napping, and I'm going to work on my Bible study of the Book of James.
My disappointment doesn't some so much that we're not camping but that our grandsons won't get the experience. Two of them were going to join us today and spend tonight in another tent, which we thankfully had not yet set up. With a stream of showers heading in our direction, Bob and I decided to come home (the campsite is only 13 miles away) and take it easy in our dry house. I fixed bacon and eggs on our camp stove and brewed coffee for breakfast, but I was literally standing in an inch of mud as the rain continued to fall after a break in the wee hours of the morning. Those conditions were no place for a 10-year-old, a 5-year-old and a 3-year-old. The fishing and canoeing that we had planned aren't happening, and I'm bummed.
We'll be going to our son's house for dinner, and a tent will be erected in the play room over the garage for the kids to sleep in to ease their disappointment. The boys especially have been talking about nothing else for the last week - camping with Nana and sleeping in a tent. I'll leave the loaf of cinnamon raisin bread that I made so they can have French toast with it in the morning.
Bob and I will return to the campsite tomorrow morning; the rain is supposed to end tonight, but I don't want to sleep in a wet tent standing in mud. We may fix breakfast there if things have dried out enough, but we'll have to dismantle the campsite even if things are still wet. Our son and the boys will join us if the weather has broken, and maybe we'll get in some fishing, canoeing, and cooking over the campfire before we have to vacate the site.
No more long-range planning of camping trips for me. If it's a nice weekend, we'll simply go for one night on the spur of the moment. November in North Carolina can be quite nice temperature wise. In the meantime, Bob is napping, and I'm going to work on my Bible study of the Book of James.
Monday, September 24, 2012
I'm back - I'll be posting on both this blog and on www.AmandasHope.com - this blog allows me to keep track of my viewers. Please keep reading! You make it worthwhile!
What a day! Today I've worked 7.75 hours (spent 1.5 hours of those looking for something that didn't exist but in the mind of an attorney in another office!); came home; scraped the mortar smoothe between the stones on the patio (don't ask me to explain); washed and dried 2 loads of laundry (well, the last load is now in the dryer); fixed dinner (fortunately, it was only for me so leftovers sufficed; Bob was at a meeting); watered the outdoor potted plants (we need rain again); did an aerobic workout, my first since my second back surgery a little over a year ago; paid a bill on-line; balanced the checkbook; and am now writing this blog. And what in all of this has eternal value? I'm not sure any of it does, but it's life.
As I was searched the file at work today, thumbing through correspondence and e-mails only to find out that it wasn't our problem if someone else couldn't find something in their file, I felt like I had been chasing the wind! Life is sometimes like that - chasing the wind. So many things need to get done, and when all's said and done, what has really been accomplished? Well, the patio looks better, the laundry basket is empty (but only for about 2 hours), I'm not hungry, the plants will survive another day, the power company won't shut off my power, and I know how much money we have in our checking account -- and to do aerobics for the first time in over a year simply made me feel good! Yet it all feels like chasing the wind! So much of life is necessary but seemingly pointless! Does anyone else feel that way?
I have 1082 days until I can retire at age 66, and I've got plans to do things that I can't find the time to do now -- writing more books will be one of them. Volunteering will be another, as will spending more time with our kids and grandkids. They are growing up too fast! More time in Bible study is also on the list. Traveling is not a priority for me; I haven't seen much of the State of North Carolina yet, so I would like to visit my back yard, so to speak. In the meantime, I'll have to keep chasing the wind and pray that God will bless the work of my hands in the doing of everyday life.
What a day! Today I've worked 7.75 hours (spent 1.5 hours of those looking for something that didn't exist but in the mind of an attorney in another office!); came home; scraped the mortar smoothe between the stones on the patio (don't ask me to explain); washed and dried 2 loads of laundry (well, the last load is now in the dryer); fixed dinner (fortunately, it was only for me so leftovers sufficed; Bob was at a meeting); watered the outdoor potted plants (we need rain again); did an aerobic workout, my first since my second back surgery a little over a year ago; paid a bill on-line; balanced the checkbook; and am now writing this blog. And what in all of this has eternal value? I'm not sure any of it does, but it's life.
As I was searched the file at work today, thumbing through correspondence and e-mails only to find out that it wasn't our problem if someone else couldn't find something in their file, I felt like I had been chasing the wind! Life is sometimes like that - chasing the wind. So many things need to get done, and when all's said and done, what has really been accomplished? Well, the patio looks better, the laundry basket is empty (but only for about 2 hours), I'm not hungry, the plants will survive another day, the power company won't shut off my power, and I know how much money we have in our checking account -- and to do aerobics for the first time in over a year simply made me feel good! Yet it all feels like chasing the wind! So much of life is necessary but seemingly pointless! Does anyone else feel that way?
I have 1082 days until I can retire at age 66, and I've got plans to do things that I can't find the time to do now -- writing more books will be one of them. Volunteering will be another, as will spending more time with our kids and grandkids. They are growing up too fast! More time in Bible study is also on the list. Traveling is not a priority for me; I haven't seen much of the State of North Carolina yet, so I would like to visit my back yard, so to speak. In the meantime, I'll have to keep chasing the wind and pray that God will bless the work of my hands in the doing of everyday life.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Moving!
This will be my last post on this website. I now have a website for my book, and that's where I'll be doing my posting. Please go to www.AmandasHope.com to continue to read my posts, as well as comment on those posts and learn about the book and how it was written.
I have yet to write about our wonderful vacation with five of our grandchildren (no, it was NOT a quiet week at the beach), about our financial crises (yes, more than 1), and about my aching foot (this is more than just tired feet)! And through it all, God has been so good!
I thoroughly enjoy writing and posting and, even though my readers are few in number, as long as what I write helps just one person, it's worth the time and effort. So please pick things up at www.AmandasHope.com, and I hope you'll leave a comment or two to let me know you're still with me.
May God continue to bless all my readers. I hope my written words have been an encouragement to all.
I have yet to write about our wonderful vacation with five of our grandchildren (no, it was NOT a quiet week at the beach), about our financial crises (yes, more than 1), and about my aching foot (this is more than just tired feet)! And through it all, God has been so good!
I thoroughly enjoy writing and posting and, even though my readers are few in number, as long as what I write helps just one person, it's worth the time and effort. So please pick things up at www.AmandasHope.com, and I hope you'll leave a comment or two to let me know you're still with me.
May God continue to bless all my readers. I hope my written words have been an encouragement to all.
Friday, June 1, 2012
Busy Time of Year
Sorry about not posting for so long. Life, as usual, is busy. Last week my grandson Luke graduated from 8th grade, and the very next day my grandson Niland "graduated" from preschool. These are major milestones in the kids' lives, and we were glad to be present even though it meant adjusting work hours for both me and my husband.
Luke was all dressed up in a suit and tie, a rare sight indeed. The Catholic school he attended did not do the cap and gown thing, but Niland's preschool church did. Well, sort of. All of the 4 year olds wore men's white short-sleeved dress shirts, which they wore backwards, making them look like white gowns. It was pretty clever. Bob donated the shirt for Niland to wear, and the sleeves came down to Niland's wrists. Some children wore long-sleeved shirts and had to have them rolled up.
We had dinner together as a family before going to Luke's graduation, and afterward, cake and punch were served. It was hard to remember that the 8th-graders were only 13 or 14 years old; many of them, including girls, were taller than Luke, who is already 5'9" tall and still growing!
After Niland's ceremony, where each child received a Bible, we went to the fellowship hall where the biggest cupcakes I've seen were served with juice and/or water. Each child also received a colored metal bucket with a plastic shovel (beach equipment!) and a few other small gifts inside. Little Julian, who turned 1 year old at the end of April, ate almost half cupcake! That little boy loved it!
On Memorial Day, which was last Monday, all of our family came over to our house for a cookout, which meant there were 21 people, including Bob and me. I had expected only 17, but there was still plenty of food to go around. The kids got to play in the sprinkler; it was a hot day, but showers in the area cooled things off. We didn't see any rain at our house, but it did rain literally less than 1/4 mile away.
Bob and I have removed a large portion of our deck and are replacing it with flagstone and plants. The deck is huge, and most of it bakes in the sun all day, radiating heat. The deck is only about 16 inches off the ground because we have a one-story home, so the ground under the deck never dries out, and the boards are starting to rot. Many of the nails/screws are also rusted. Now that the deck has been removed, we have been laying flagstone, which is backbreaking work. Each stone has to be leveled while still sloping away from the house. We currently have a little more than half the space done, but the rest of it will have to wait until we return from vacation.
We are heading off to Ocean Isle Beach close to the South Carolina state line this Saturday with my daughter and her family (4 people), and my son's family (5 people), as well as one other teenaged boy who is Luke's friend, so we will have a total of 12 people in a 5 bedroom 5.5 bathroom house. My husband and I are looking forward to this time with family and each other, especially after this past year with both of us undergoing major medical issues. Time like next week is precious.
So we'll be soaking up some rays next week, and I'll actually be able to get in the water. Last year I was 3 weeks out of back surgery and had to keep my incision at the small of my back dry. It wasn't much fun! So this year I'll be able to boogey board (yes, I do that, and rather well, I might add!) and walk on the beach without getting exhausted. The beauty of God's creation never ceases to amaze me, and the shore is a place of tranquility and beauty where land-dwelling creatures meet those that live in the sea. Two different spheres, yet one world. Amazing!
Luke was all dressed up in a suit and tie, a rare sight indeed. The Catholic school he attended did not do the cap and gown thing, but Niland's preschool church did. Well, sort of. All of the 4 year olds wore men's white short-sleeved dress shirts, which they wore backwards, making them look like white gowns. It was pretty clever. Bob donated the shirt for Niland to wear, and the sleeves came down to Niland's wrists. Some children wore long-sleeved shirts and had to have them rolled up.
We had dinner together as a family before going to Luke's graduation, and afterward, cake and punch were served. It was hard to remember that the 8th-graders were only 13 or 14 years old; many of them, including girls, were taller than Luke, who is already 5'9" tall and still growing!
After Niland's ceremony, where each child received a Bible, we went to the fellowship hall where the biggest cupcakes I've seen were served with juice and/or water. Each child also received a colored metal bucket with a plastic shovel (beach equipment!) and a few other small gifts inside. Little Julian, who turned 1 year old at the end of April, ate almost half cupcake! That little boy loved it!
On Memorial Day, which was last Monday, all of our family came over to our house for a cookout, which meant there were 21 people, including Bob and me. I had expected only 17, but there was still plenty of food to go around. The kids got to play in the sprinkler; it was a hot day, but showers in the area cooled things off. We didn't see any rain at our house, but it did rain literally less than 1/4 mile away.
Bob and I have removed a large portion of our deck and are replacing it with flagstone and plants. The deck is huge, and most of it bakes in the sun all day, radiating heat. The deck is only about 16 inches off the ground because we have a one-story home, so the ground under the deck never dries out, and the boards are starting to rot. Many of the nails/screws are also rusted. Now that the deck has been removed, we have been laying flagstone, which is backbreaking work. Each stone has to be leveled while still sloping away from the house. We currently have a little more than half the space done, but the rest of it will have to wait until we return from vacation.
We are heading off to Ocean Isle Beach close to the South Carolina state line this Saturday with my daughter and her family (4 people), and my son's family (5 people), as well as one other teenaged boy who is Luke's friend, so we will have a total of 12 people in a 5 bedroom 5.5 bathroom house. My husband and I are looking forward to this time with family and each other, especially after this past year with both of us undergoing major medical issues. Time like next week is precious.
So we'll be soaking up some rays next week, and I'll actually be able to get in the water. Last year I was 3 weeks out of back surgery and had to keep my incision at the small of my back dry. It wasn't much fun! So this year I'll be able to boogey board (yes, I do that, and rather well, I might add!) and walk on the beach without getting exhausted. The beauty of God's creation never ceases to amaze me, and the shore is a place of tranquility and beauty where land-dwelling creatures meet those that live in the sea. Two different spheres, yet one world. Amazing!
Friday, May 11, 2012
Sick!
You really don't want to know the details of how sick I've been with a flu bug this past week. I'll spare you the personal details. I missed a day of work Wednesday and have been back at work since then, but I probably should have stayed home; I need to stay very close to the bathroom!
I've probably eaten in the past 3 days the same amout of food I usually eat in 1 day. My intestines have sounded like a volcano erupting, but at least the pain, headache, and chills I experienced Wednesday have abated. It could be much worse!
Mothers' Day is Sunday, the day we honor our mothers in this country. We usually have it at the houses of one of my children, but I decided to treat them this year and am hosting our meal together. We are in the middle of our string of birthdays in my family; Julian turned 1 on April 27, my son-in-law John turned 43 on April 30, my granddaughter Cami turned 10 on May 5, my son turned 40 yesterday on May 10, and my daughter turns 43 on May 18. So Mothers' Day is right in the thick of it!
My daughter-in-law is taking my son, Nate, out for dinner tomorrow evening, so they'll be bringing their 3 small boys over to stay with us while they dine. They will then be taking little Julian home with them, and Benny and Niland will spend the night. This will be the first overnight for Benny, so it ought to be interesting. I have to bake a cake and and muffins for Sunday before the boys arrive or I might not get it done.
Sunday we'll be off to church, then back home. Bob will hurry to Raleigh to get his 89-year-old mother for the meal and afternoon, and I'll whip up some buttermilk buscuits and something else for lunch, along with some ham.
The weather is supposed to be stellar. We had record heat in March and April, and now we're a bit below normal, but not much. Sunday should be a pleasant day with some clouds tossed in for good measure.
Even if you don't celebrate Mothers' Day, bless your mother Sunday -- if she's still living. Without her you'd not have life.
I've probably eaten in the past 3 days the same amout of food I usually eat in 1 day. My intestines have sounded like a volcano erupting, but at least the pain, headache, and chills I experienced Wednesday have abated. It could be much worse!
Mothers' Day is Sunday, the day we honor our mothers in this country. We usually have it at the houses of one of my children, but I decided to treat them this year and am hosting our meal together. We are in the middle of our string of birthdays in my family; Julian turned 1 on April 27, my son-in-law John turned 43 on April 30, my granddaughter Cami turned 10 on May 5, my son turned 40 yesterday on May 10, and my daughter turns 43 on May 18. So Mothers' Day is right in the thick of it!
My daughter-in-law is taking my son, Nate, out for dinner tomorrow evening, so they'll be bringing their 3 small boys over to stay with us while they dine. They will then be taking little Julian home with them, and Benny and Niland will spend the night. This will be the first overnight for Benny, so it ought to be interesting. I have to bake a cake and and muffins for Sunday before the boys arrive or I might not get it done.
Sunday we'll be off to church, then back home. Bob will hurry to Raleigh to get his 89-year-old mother for the meal and afternoon, and I'll whip up some buttermilk buscuits and something else for lunch, along with some ham.
The weather is supposed to be stellar. We had record heat in March and April, and now we're a bit below normal, but not much. Sunday should be a pleasant day with some clouds tossed in for good measure.
Even if you don't celebrate Mothers' Day, bless your mother Sunday -- if she's still living. Without her you'd not have life.
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