tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21354786137577905772024-03-04T21:24:03.954-09:00Where He Leads Me I Will FollowMy name is Carol. I am a mom, wife and small town medical provider. Our family is committed to following the Lord as He leads us. We come from Methodist, Mennonite, Messianic Gentile and other Christian experiences. Ours is a mismatched, odd-looking faith, but meaningful to us as we strive to follow the Spirit's lead. Our arms are open to all with love and acceptance. Our family is not a neat cookie cutter anything, and our life looks messy most of the time, but we struggle on with hope.Carol Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14378692662567620945noreply@blogger.comBlogger121125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2135478613757790577.post-19796627625516161152020-04-25T08:37:00.000-08:002020-04-25T15:34:27.065-08:00March/April Pandemic 2020<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd6Q_pyTqvHeU1TDo7hnG5BPlhU6b7NjMzAswWmsc5l11doJEc6VKgkuGlZBoBye-W-log-R9ihx1pCVFKvr_XOo1XRXaf8LRL2fEHcvBBO6j8QDTF1dJlevElq73G5ZwyJ1Deh9rfdPdI/s1600/FB_IMG_1586703350418.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd6Q_pyTqvHeU1TDo7hnG5BPlhU6b7NjMzAswWmsc5l11doJEc6VKgkuGlZBoBye-W-log-R9ihx1pCVFKvr_XOo1XRXaf8LRL2fEHcvBBO6j8QDTF1dJlevElq73G5ZwyJ1Deh9rfdPdI/s400/FB_IMG_1586703350418.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Since my last post three years ago, our little clinic has grown and thrived. We consist of a nurse, a receptionist and myself in a tiny, but functional 2 exam room, one lab and one office building. We have changed from the original staff we opened with, except myself (my original receptionist is in school training to become a nurse, and my medical assistant was replaced with a nurse, which was a good but sad transition because I lost a special person in the upgrade 😩).<br />
<br />
For me, it is a real Twilight Zone to be in the middle of a world wide medical crisis. Until the beginning of March our little clinic was open five days a week. When the social distancing began, people stopped coming to the clinics and hospitals, and this created a crisis with our hospital. In the beginning we weren't given any tools to help people with COVID19 symptoms - we couldn't test them, and we had to just tell them to stay at home and isolate unless they had difficulty breathing. It was new and scary to everyone. We couldn't test them unless they had either traveled to Hubei, China, Italy or were exposed to someone we knew had COVID19 for the first month or so.<br />
<br />
Now we are 6-7 weeks into the social distancing, I think. We are allowed to order tests for anyone with respiratory symptoms, thankfully, for the past week or two. We are not seeing zero patients any longer. We "see" 7-10 people a day in our little clinic, which isn't too bad, but they still aren't letting us open more than two days a week. I'm not really sure what is happening when people call in on the days we are closed, because the calls forward to the main clinic where they are supposed to be helped. I haven't really seen people being scheduled on my schedule after those days, and I don't come back to phone messages waiting for me to return them. I do hope people are being taken care of. I don't think this is good for our community, where our only other clinic is closed for remodeling. I hope to be able to add another day to our local clinic schedule soon. I'm hoping by the first of June.<br />
<br />
Besides working in the clinic in our small town on Mondays and Thursdays, I am also working on Fridays at our Prompt Care clinic in a bigger nearby town, and picking up a few other random shorter weekend days there each month. I am grateful to have some stored up earned vacation time to help fill in the salary gaps.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZHn13xI18LK9EltBVFcj0nCPxtLdb-kcilu0lQL7sf6NIKwYAZk_QeEiKUdDYAf9Iq-CGGsFQW_49boBgSuADoEDdQycigPr2DJiL6E_ZvTP4aFu3BFMb9K84Ot7SVaFgzuRdl3ubR9-/s1600/20200423_160429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZHn13xI18LK9EltBVFcj0nCPxtLdb-kcilu0lQL7sf6NIKwYAZk_QeEiKUdDYAf9Iq-CGGsFQW_49boBgSuADoEDdQycigPr2DJiL6E_ZvTP4aFu3BFMb9K84Ot7SVaFgzuRdl3ubR9-/s400/20200423_160429.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This unknown person dressed as a dinosaur walked <br />
down our main street in front of the clinic on Thursday. <br />
It is great to see the efforts people make to keep everyone's spirit's lifted.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
At the beginning of March, I got sick myself. It started with mild cold symptoms - headache, low grade fever, body aches, fatigue. Then I got a sore throat and swollen glands for several days. After about a week I developed shortness of breath - not anything too scary. We were in the stage of the pandemic where no one was tested unless they knew there was a high chance of having it - if they had recently travelled to China or Italy, had severe illness in the hospital, etc. Until I ended up showing pneumonia (day 11) on a chest xray, they did not let me be tested. I finally was tested on day 12 for COVID 19. It came back negative three days later. Thirty percent of those tested are falsely negative, so I still wonder if I had it. I slowly got better and at this point I only cough after eating. My illness was never severe, but it had me out of work for a week. In the couple of weeks prior to getting ill, my daughters and I traveled to Chicago where it was just starting to break out. Also at that time shortly before I got sick, three families were coming in to our clinic with flu-like symptoms and high fevers but out of about 12 people only one showed positive on a test for influenza. I wonder about whether they actually had mild COVID19 too. We only know of one positive COVID19 test in our community so far, but he wasn't my patient. Interestingly, he was tested the same day I was.<br />
<br />
The schools have been closed and doing school virtually since the beginning of March some time (just before spring break). JoJo's music festival was cancelled, which would have been his first opportunity to play in an orchestra. He had worked hard to prepare. His trip to Washington DC was postponed ($1500!) the next week (so far they're still hoping to reschedule in August). Now the state is mandating school closures for the rest of the school year. The poor graduates this year won't get graduation parties or ceremonies.<br />
<br />
I've enjoyed having JoJo home all this time. His school, Princeton Christian Academy, has been assigning schoolwork to do at home. They come in twice a month to get new assignments and bring back finished work.<br />
<br />
DH has worked with JoJo to build raised garden beds in the back yard. They have put in dirt, composted manure and peat moss to make the dirt (not the quality we were hoping for) better. I love to see them working on it.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLcqv6PEseS12dNo3qvytFJUuPbrjNQDsz_333Ojl4YatNO4R2KAAYFBsat8ok2xPqekSxN-fJyBalH2oHJdpCCAtnRJtLTTblu7STl4Ov9bby7_R8XLt85qGnPEB9qTmdCzJRSjGI_OLU/s1600/20200419_155519.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLcqv6PEseS12dNo3qvytFJUuPbrjNQDsz_333Ojl4YatNO4R2KAAYFBsat8ok2xPqekSxN-fJyBalH2oHJdpCCAtnRJtLTTblu7STl4Ov9bby7_R8XLt85qGnPEB9qTmdCzJRSjGI_OLU/s400/20200419_155519.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JoJo and DH building a raised bed garden. I'm really proud of them.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
JoJo is also doing virtual violin lessons with his violin teacher, Katie Roy. This is not as great as in person, but doable. He has been much more consistent with his practicing too.<br />
<br />
LE has been homeschooling for a little over a year. She decided public high school wasn't her cup of tea. Homeschooling has been great for her. She has also plugged into a home school group that does cooperative classes 8 times a semester. This semester she was doing sign language, drawing, and cooking with this group in addition to her other subjects at home. She has made us a meal a couple of times - score!! DH taught a drum building class last semester too, but now that group gatherings have been shut down, he has a bunch of partial drum shells waiting for them to be able to finish some day.<br />
<br />
CC had to give up her job of almost two years at the local nursing home. Her back has really been hurting her. She has other health issues too.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRB2Po1_RjGB-CLJxPYeUA0Bmy1fILrf9Ezc1RuWO7eXbCF-mJBxrNJNrTKK-4uD8fO9CWooA0p7K_7KPE5H6Ar0vjtoh-rpQUIDNxl7oCNM22JWUa1XWv5ujmVOB7IHK6O6eJVkoBggHa/s1600/FB_IMG_1586722556245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRB2Po1_RjGB-CLJxPYeUA0Bmy1fILrf9Ezc1RuWO7eXbCF-mJBxrNJNrTKK-4uD8fO9CWooA0p7K_7KPE5H6Ar0vjtoh-rpQUIDNxl7oCNM22JWUa1XWv5ujmVOB7IHK6O6eJVkoBggHa/s400/FB_IMG_1586722556245.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CC is growing her hair out. Isn't she beautiful?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
JJ has really been depressed. In spite of all her doctor appointments, we've really not found any solutions to her multitude of health problems. We've been working on trying to get her on disability, but that is very difficult.<br />
<br />
We've not gone into Walmart since this social distancing has begun. They offer curbside pickup, which works nicely without being exposed to all the people who go into Walmart. When we get home we wash each item with bleach water before we put it away. The fruit we wash and rinse with dish-soapy water and a little bleach. We buy what we usually get at our local grocery store, plus what we can't get at curbside pick-up. It is a real blessing to have a local grocery store in our town for the past 2 years. If all else fails, we order online, mostly from Amazon. Our spending has been cut back a lot because of my hours being cut at the clinic.<br />
<br />
Sunday is the highlight of my week. We watch/listen to the online sermon our church posts in the morning and eat homemade donuts (once made by yours truly 😃). At two o'clock some of the people from our church gather virtually in a "Breakout Group" on Zoom. I love this weekly fellowship. Other than the six or so coworkers I see regularly at work, and the patients, this is my one time to meet with friends, catch up a little, talk about the sermon and pray for one another. On Tuesday evenings a small group of us from the community meet over a Messenger phone call to pray as well. We were meeting at the church weekly before the social distancing began, but now we do it from home.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinKePonN81CPd9Um0rZ4uDcD2iKzusJwjvD07M35b0ChQkUT1M8SH05yfwLiskM2-l94pNy-f5Qu_232fYqGbJcvgnEPbj4xHvRy1WBoKmouX9FsEcJVlrs8lfh1MTLcgw5oEfA5-AdDZH/s1600/20200329_112214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinKePonN81CPd9Um0rZ4uDcD2iKzusJwjvD07M35b0ChQkUT1M8SH05yfwLiskM2-l94pNy-f5Qu_232fYqGbJcvgnEPbj4xHvRy1WBoKmouX9FsEcJVlrs8lfh1MTLcgw5oEfA5-AdDZH/s320/20200329_112214.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was our family getting ready for church at home one Sunday.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Other things we have done while virtually distancing have been doing a virtual Passover dinner, celebrating Easter with just our family, and one day we did some geocaching. DH and I have worked on cleaning our room and the garage - both could still use some work. I caught my hair on fire that day we cleaned the garage as I was putting some sawdust and wood pieces in an already lit burn barrel. It flared up and burned my face and hair, but I praise God that it was very minor and didn't need to be cut, since my hairdresser wouldn't have been able to help.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzUnCdCTIXX4EyadYxyrYr4nEMRVKqwuBOBrFKLXmC36TGSimetShc_6cR9DzkYRW7yjmgt6jOinUXRVRSitOzki_iq-iJMipPnmp9tTNCEmAYPKUBjRs4oFNZGJprTo9WZ_DGmB4oxVoL/s1600/20200418_120452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzUnCdCTIXX4EyadYxyrYr4nEMRVKqwuBOBrFKLXmC36TGSimetShc_6cR9DzkYRW7yjmgt6jOinUXRVRSitOzki_iq-iJMipPnmp9tTNCEmAYPKUBjRs4oFNZGJprTo9WZ_DGmB4oxVoL/s400/20200418_120452.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JoJo finds first geocache of the day!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjalUqaBNdIT6EIxNASaAdE702HSSx4bcgejz9mHnXQfqZ1Gq68gX4_ZxEMNt86QvSZ4dfAFPHFNfB0pnTal4ed7BLihyx5CY7zx4qUhON-5tAsItK2MikQWmeqBuzqAkRxbB2-2F-cARct/s1600/20200418_123023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjalUqaBNdIT6EIxNASaAdE702HSSx4bcgejz9mHnXQfqZ1Gq68gX4_ZxEMNt86QvSZ4dfAFPHFNfB0pnTal4ed7BLihyx5CY7zx4qUhON-5tAsItK2MikQWmeqBuzqAkRxbB2-2F-cARct/s400/20200418_123023.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not all of the caches could be accessed.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh72kddbT65y3ROFExfI8-oUglNLzDZTriEo-tNbO66rLbLzxHTL2EUKHvi2PfLFkm_cd_SyJqORUyLpUzN48JyGdsvMBHWj3bbpbxtEpXjgVptsMk4J38Tv4qeY_fOUOSCYLvRy-AaAaTw/s1600/20200418_123626.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh72kddbT65y3ROFExfI8-oUglNLzDZTriEo-tNbO66rLbLzxHTL2EUKHvi2PfLFkm_cd_SyJqORUyLpUzN48JyGdsvMBHWj3bbpbxtEpXjgVptsMk4J38Tv4qeY_fOUOSCYLvRy-AaAaTw/s400/20200418_123626.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's fun to go to places I've never been before.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHvNveg1JHnH5eCMI0pOCZVFD9fLLf-SyBerOU0RZZ1yUpJBssNZ4VZVU5R9FeY3ssaRHkxltI7O1nndOOpdAd37-qElE2n6_trNW-rdarGaVz1PViC02yM6s3i9o1-5GlWBd_80wZSEdD/s1600/20200418_125215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHvNveg1JHnH5eCMI0pOCZVFD9fLLf-SyBerOU0RZZ1yUpJBssNZ4VZVU5R9FeY3ssaRHkxltI7O1nndOOpdAd37-qElE2n6_trNW-rdarGaVz1PViC02yM6s3i9o1-5GlWBd_80wZSEdD/s400/20200418_125215.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LE, CC, JJ, JoJo, and me. I've never been here either, but it is less than 30 miles away.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgitiRV5TP9Lx1rhpOBBrxLK77SXQsRfziPLTUtLI8avURIavF-RB6FXgKJRxYRnM1aMJkSBrZvKBkV82-qlvzaeAGef2pPIGT7IiSHdOnGLD4sIm-tbnqi6hWXxpeK6gsvBtaScN45rc3e/s1600/20200418_134957.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgitiRV5TP9Lx1rhpOBBrxLK77SXQsRfziPLTUtLI8avURIavF-RB6FXgKJRxYRnM1aMJkSBrZvKBkV82-qlvzaeAGef2pPIGT7IiSHdOnGLD4sIm-tbnqi6hWXxpeK6gsvBtaScN45rc3e/s400/20200418_134957.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CC at our 4th find of the day</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbNkDJovHgkXvu5MMnqGETRNWehGaKEo0xQ179UHM-_e4D_LHI5n53lf2od4O2-ohJoRKV7SXYC9HkL8BDCCcTZw4L89NOGIPh-GD83MiSkHy-7phDh8bbuIRwXl8s9vpmhaqGdfr96HM8/s1600/20200418_163300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbNkDJovHgkXvu5MMnqGETRNWehGaKEo0xQ179UHM-_e4D_LHI5n53lf2od4O2-ohJoRKV7SXYC9HkL8BDCCcTZw4L89NOGIPh-GD83MiSkHy-7phDh8bbuIRwXl8s9vpmhaqGdfr96HM8/s400/20200418_163300.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JJ and DH joined me on a short walk around the Ross Preserve outside of Walnut on Saturday.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_2jxGxfDCVp7Hgy97M-FaFLybPXHA3HGrmhU23wTY9xCwo0rKErp2dSFg7pVVwJBzqYyL4umTOkIwDM6Uayu0zBFDJZCNn9TKMCOluFOO-JjzFByjkt8BdLWz641zTiddUDZSJU20krnb/s1600/20200418_163327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_2jxGxfDCVp7Hgy97M-FaFLybPXHA3HGrmhU23wTY9xCwo0rKErp2dSFg7pVVwJBzqYyL4umTOkIwDM6Uayu0zBFDJZCNn9TKMCOluFOO-JjzFByjkt8BdLWz641zTiddUDZSJU20krnb/s400/20200418_163327.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is me. It was a windy day.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpqlADAnYA5AcbZw70UHPVvdKO3oNqzqz7_MzNtWIjKorSrRtPQU2SPF-lgRWatKQoZnrVpUtkKwshwnXDONm-8mO5okj87EFWEzbjU4EBKH60dn7ny30c3HmfnAqMjZPoXqu0pL-VBE_3/s1600/20200418_173407.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpqlADAnYA5AcbZw70UHPVvdKO3oNqzqz7_MzNtWIjKorSrRtPQU2SPF-lgRWatKQoZnrVpUtkKwshwnXDONm-8mO5okj87EFWEzbjU4EBKH60dn7ny30c3HmfnAqMjZPoXqu0pL-VBE_3/s400/20200418_173407.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saturday night we had a fire in on the patio and roasted hotdogs and Peeps - thanks for the fire, JoJo!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09559958529491627022noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2135478613757790577.post-18252046263691607552017-10-22T13:51:00.000-08:002017-10-22T13:51:31.677-08:00Our new townWe are half-way through the first semester/a quarter of the way through our first year living in this small town in rural America. I have lived in rural towns most of my life, and so far this is the best town I've ever lived in. So much good is here. Not perfect, no. But so many good things.<br />
<br />
When we looked over this town, we liked the second hand store, Pass It Along, that was situated downtown. The owner was very friendly. Indeed, I have still to meet an unfriendly person here! We were saddened when the second hand store closed within weeks of our moving into town, but since then a wonderful salon has opened in its place and next door they are remodeling the unused store to house the new Pass It Along, which will be run by the same woman! The original store closed in order to make room for the salon as it was opened by the previous owner's daughter.<br />
<br />
Our new hometown also has three sit-down restaurants, if you count the country club outside of town, a small carry-out ice-cream, gyros, burgers and pizza place, and one gas station that sells fried chicken everyone loves one day a week, and has another ice cream counter :). We have a Ford dealership, a t-shirt shop, another gas station, two insurance companies, two banks, a couple of realtors, a grain elevator (right in the middle of downtown - but it seems to be closed), two clinics (now that our hospital opened mine), several churches, and at least 3 larger manufacturing businesses that offer jobs to the community. One of these businesses is Avanti's. It makes Gino's frozen pizza and sells lots of specialty cheeses and some meats. It has a neat little store that sells us the cheeses and such locally and also provides a place to get unique gifts as well.<br />
<br />
Up until now we have not had a grocery store here. No Walmart, Dollar General or any place like that. I've heard that Dollar General is going to open a store here, but in my 4 months here I haven't seen as much as a ground-breaking event. Beginning early next month, however, we are going to get a grocery store! The owners have their own farm and have been working on opening a butcher shop to offer their organic high-end meat, but for the past 1-2 months have felt the Lord leading them to go further and also make it a grocery store! They will offer organic and regular produce as well! I am so happy to hear this, and you can believe that we will shop there!<br />
<br />
Our little hamlet does not have a pharmacy. I've thought that would be a problem, but one pharmacy in a larger town 30 miles away is offering delivery of prescriptions for $3 by one of it's employees who lives in our town! She also said that she would deliver for free if you were willing to come to her house to pick it up! You can't even drive to that town and back for $3! I'm hoping that this will get people patronaging our local clinics when they know that they won't have to drive to town to get their meds afterwards.<br />
<br />
Have you ever read the series of books by Frank Peretti starting with <i>This Present Darkness?</i> Sometimes I feel like I am in that little town of that first book. I see God working here. I love the new church we are attending, and I see everyday miracles happening in the lives of people who attend there. About a month ago a six year old child lost control of a motor scooter he was trying to ride and went right into the path of a huge semi-trailer that subsequently ran over him. The testimony of this child and his recovery is so amazing and shows God's hand in it in every area. He is recovering and every day we read miracles about the new things he is able to do. The community and towns around our little town have stepped up and raised so much money for this family that it is unbelievable. The "Prayers for Caleb" Facebook page that daily tells his recovery story is liked by over 25,000 people everyday! So many people are praying for that little boy and his family. My son shares a class with his sister at school. The school has also taken part in several fundraisers for the family.<br />
<br />
More about our church: our church has a worship band and two pastors. The head pastor speaks straight from the Bible and digs out the message in prayer each week, probably spending a huge portion of that time on his knees. He is very active in the pulpit and quite entertaining. The more I've been to this church and heard the sermons and sat in the group afterwards that discusses the sermon with the head pastor and elders, the more I have come to love this church. These people are genuine and seem to share the same values that my husband and I hold. It isn't uncommon that I just feel God there - in the sermon and in this after-class especially. I haven't been reading my Bible pretty much since I moved to this state from Alaska 3 years ago. Bible study become a burden to me. I still have a close relationship with God and pray and depend on Him dearly, but I was burned out on the Bible. I don't know the whats or whys of how it happened, but I found the Bible so troubling and confusing and made me feel separate from other believers. Lately, though, as I go to church at our new church, I am feeling drawn to read my Bible again. I want that sweet communion that I used to have when the Lord would speak to me from His Word on a daily basis directly about my life. Not just the do's and don'ts, but just the tender whisperings that He is there and sees me and has everything in control. My 3rd daughter has started going to junior high youth group at our new church and loves it. My son also has a midweek program called Kool Kids after school that he attends there.<br />
<br />
This summer our new town put on two town-wide celebrations. One is celebrated around the 4th of July for several days, and one is held in the fall. I was surprised by how many people take part in these celebrations. It takes a village committed to having a wonderful place to live to pull these things off, and you can see that in these celebrations. I didn't get to take part in much of the fall celebration because I was tied to a booth promoting our new clinic and the hospital I work for. My kids had a great time. There was live music, vendor booths, jump houses, face painting, free cider and donuts, pumpkin painting and lots of frolicking. Next year I hope to do something more mobile so I can take part in more and also I would like to tour the fire station (which I forgot to tell you earlier that our town also has.<br />
<br />
One down side to our town right now is a thorn in everyone's flesh. We have a large building downtown that has been neglected by out of town owners and has sat empty for some time. Now there are bricks falling down from the building to the sidewalk below and the area has had to be fenced off. The village leadership is working on coming up with a solution that won't cost the town too much money, but I haven't heard what will happen yet. In spite of this eyesore, the downtown area is being renovated and building by building new businesses are taking up space. I keep thinking that my husband and kids should open a bakery/coffee shop, but my husband isn't convinced yet :) .<br />
<br />
<br />Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09559958529491627022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2135478613757790577.post-7727026303785413442017-08-20T19:31:00.001-08:002017-08-20T19:31:41.362-08:00End of Summer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtBfsisiUwTjHV0lKDAeAZsptJtKkq3v-Vkh822Jkv7B9XoD09bwckQYwDXrW4fIF7f_XziVU26-tBF0xyEDJCuk1vwFqgAA2jjl9BhZn5FjpQzBmQa-Q9N8GPMVYOEp1h1YqJiylmRgO/s1600/20170816_172739.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtBfsisiUwTjHV0lKDAeAZsptJtKkq3v-Vkh822Jkv7B9XoD09bwckQYwDXrW4fIF7f_XziVU26-tBF0xyEDJCuk1vwFqgAA2jjl9BhZn5FjpQzBmQa-Q9N8GPMVYOEp1h1YqJiylmRgO/s320/20170816_172739.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
<br />
Summer has ended. My two youngest started school on Thursday. They have again switched schools to a public school in our new town. We felt it was best for them to integrate into their new community by going to school here. We are also starting to be active with a local church part time as well. The first two days at school seemed to go well. I think there are some positives about this school, such as a very active band and choir teacher. He seems happy to have some students who already know a little about playing in a band. It seems that band and choir are optional classes, so I don't know how big the band or choir will be. They will also have art regularly, computer class, and to LE's delight, she has a whole class focused on reading. This teacher has a Hogwart's poster in her room and tons of Sci-fi and Fantasy books. She already has LE happily reading Cauldecott Honor books!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGpObpdU9-fU7M_ciJjCAOVTlkGm9n3bnlqigca7uJejJUygRXdESYhFEbKcF4iIlw0TQfX46UOkZkRv1dOn_py0Se7RIUtoPyWe-48kHUJ_1MZZmzsJOl0b_N89_KsbE6lHW1HyhhY1W4/s1600/20170505_182759.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGpObpdU9-fU7M_ciJjCAOVTlkGm9n3bnlqigca7uJejJUygRXdESYhFEbKcF4iIlw0TQfX46UOkZkRv1dOn_py0Se7RIUtoPyWe-48kHUJ_1MZZmzsJOl0b_N89_KsbE6lHW1HyhhY1W4/s320/20170505_182759.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
LE will be doing something called Illinois Valley Show Choir this fall with extra workshops regarding auditioning, dance steps and stuff like that. I think it will be a good fit for her. I've scaled back her involvement with flute at Music Suite 408 to weekly private lessons, as she didn't really enjoy the hour of playing flute with the intermediate ensemble for an hour standing up after a 30 min private lesson. It sounds like she'll be doing plenty with her school band anyway.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimv76K935_Efh2CHp97OjeKL3sfz1WqWNcHRm4-SNcMfu8g9_HP9IHXQdMl4-LB2rKbtSb9L_MuhyJvh76XSfkMUpf_0Pr538p2ZJu6O5tupn1hYBrzmfL51crS795gIeGu9PuXPqaWv9g/s1600/20170810_140320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimv76K935_Efh2CHp97OjeKL3sfz1WqWNcHRm4-SNcMfu8g9_HP9IHXQdMl4-LB2rKbtSb9L_MuhyJvh76XSfkMUpf_0Pr538p2ZJu6O5tupn1hYBrzmfL51crS795gIeGu9PuXPqaWv9g/s320/20170810_140320.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
Jojo will be continuing on with his violin with Miss Kate. He has been doing his lessons on his own lately, but I am asking him to do them when I get home now, so that we can step up the quality of practice time he gets. I hope I can keep it positive.<br />
<br />
He will be playing soccer this year in a small park district program this fall.<br />
<br />
His class will get to see the eclipse outside tomorrow with special glasses that his teacher bought for the occasion for all the kids. I think they are the only group that gets to do this around. It is a once or twice in a lifetime experience that he will never forget, even though it will only be a partial eclipse here.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1rjFy7bnGPMVpDc0x5Gf8qb7GliQ-RCiSbOpxNcWe9DNKkKpBtC_yxpwcaj5y3aFmzwFEW9Lk-qE7QpEdUV9GNAAR-o5BWAAbs_uW_frHXZFajcJyGapugkDhn6G3hnnVMN0ViLeuVgCS/s1600/20170802_213151_005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1rjFy7bnGPMVpDc0x5Gf8qb7GliQ-RCiSbOpxNcWe9DNKkKpBtC_yxpwcaj5y3aFmzwFEW9Lk-qE7QpEdUV9GNAAR-o5BWAAbs_uW_frHXZFajcJyGapugkDhn6G3hnnVMN0ViLeuVgCS/s320/20170802_213151_005.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
JJ had a nice time in Florida this summer. She caught a bug going around so didn't end up getting to go to Camp MennoHaven this year. She did get to go to most of Camp Oasis, but had to come home to do some testing. The new school she is going to attend is having a hard time deciding where to put her. I hope they end up taking my recommendation to let her be a senior, but worst case scenario, she may be held back to sophomore year. I think they were hoping that with that possibility, we'd say no thanks, because in spite of my trying all summer to get things set up before school started, they did not get their ducks in a row. She did do the testing after the second day of school and have told us to still keep her home Monday - that Tuesday would be the earliest they would admit her, but even that isn't settled :(. I'm praying for God to be in control of where they put her and that they would have favor on her. She is pretty anxious about going to a big public high school, since she's never done anything like it.<br />
<br />
CC could not find a job all summer. She tried diligently at first and then after a few weeks again, but then gave up after all the rejection. Probably moving was not in her favor this summer. She goes back to school next weekend.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgROuNrvd3Wfl_DSqNknYcX4IJBe2ImllMQ9R7kRzZxoyTGuXb0jA4j2YbDKxEBMQmX1qEmM9AFcgYrAXGF6sWxAWvrO0DeyJcoTVZEwwN6MqkBKu-fINSbXtGyRZGsIuBy-p5I1qgfbyJH/s1600/20170810_180127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgROuNrvd3Wfl_DSqNknYcX4IJBe2ImllMQ9R7kRzZxoyTGuXb0jA4j2YbDKxEBMQmX1qEmM9AFcgYrAXGF6sWxAWvrO0DeyJcoTVZEwwN6MqkBKu-fINSbXtGyRZGsIuBy-p5I1qgfbyJH/s320/20170810_180127.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgQnwOA76xXwAjx6XkLaTbxzjeOwZujRetcO6Fh08t01JFDPWC6D-vITyRGtXn6mN1t746GUgaz0Bj0_JYJMLDi-lCWxw4aDc5XlWtAph45qSyOafNPMDV5ZiaDbs9V1-A7YAdHtjX0xec/s1600/20170810_191127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgQnwOA76xXwAjx6XkLaTbxzjeOwZujRetcO6Fh08t01JFDPWC6D-vITyRGtXn6mN1t746GUgaz0Bj0_JYJMLDi-lCWxw4aDc5XlWtAph45qSyOafNPMDV5ZiaDbs9V1-A7YAdHtjX0xec/s320/20170810_191127.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Tim and I took our first week away from all the kids alone since CC was born almost 20 years ago. We went to California coast and spent 5 days at a conference. While we were there, we were privileged to visit the Golden Rule, a ship that was manned originally by four men, one of whom was my late father-in-law, David Gale. They sailed in protest to bomb testing in the Pacific in 1958. It is quite a story that I am pretty proud of. While we were there, DH got interviewed and may end up on national public radio telling his dad's story. One thing interesting was that because of the Golden Rule, they peace sign came to be a pretty well-known symbol for peace. It was shortly after the activity of the Golden Rule and the national news that it became, that the peace movement of the 1960s happened, and I wonder how much what they did led to that happening. We have a copy of the book written by the Captain of the Golden Rule, that belongs to my mother-in-law Margaret now, and I hope to read it soon. David is mentioned in the book. We also got to look through a bunch of David's old pictures, news clippings, personal letters and so forth that Margaret has prior to visiting the ship.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtRouILOjxwbHM4hbbr5IHcOg_COZtP5A2TCzX7GCnllePW4WOgBM7SFJ1Qd-K4LqIvEc1ETVyXyOvZhuq5KmBFN9fHPhtB8IT_Ff7LMf0Y-0i_Rc_BSA5XTc9zH1NQ0GNd4NwVkNHH1bV/s1600/20170810_190840_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtRouILOjxwbHM4hbbr5IHcOg_COZtP5A2TCzX7GCnllePW4WOgBM7SFJ1Qd-K4LqIvEc1ETVyXyOvZhuq5KmBFN9fHPhtB8IT_Ff7LMf0Y-0i_Rc_BSA5XTc9zH1NQ0GNd4NwVkNHH1bV/s320/20170810_190840_001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09559958529491627022noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2135478613757790577.post-30441661309710029882017-07-08T09:12:00.000-08:002017-07-08T09:12:40.429-08:00Early Summer Happenings 2017Sometimes life catches me in its tide, and I just have to go with it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTW6HFAmtQaZWEBzZn21G6UOi1AfsttR9ZijUE0pOV9e147HR1Q6M5Gr6oxjRjIYNzbsiNDnFvw9r4Ku2NRskmWmli83yo2CL97kELCYjcLl7hbFB1JH1LWTuMm1KsM1TbN4a2z4W2Vs_H/s1600/20170428_195456.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTW6HFAmtQaZWEBzZn21G6UOi1AfsttR9ZijUE0pOV9e147HR1Q6M5Gr6oxjRjIYNzbsiNDnFvw9r4Ku2NRskmWmli83yo2CL97kELCYjcLl7hbFB1JH1LWTuMm1KsM1TbN4a2z4W2Vs_H/s400/20170428_195456.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LE in burgundy is one of the society ladies in "Pollyanna"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWjaBJojK8ogpAwMmN6-OZt9eEzIT7BiHevBBZnIcxMn3LUxZEKlCxXEcpmjJ0K2XH6QNzMYPdpIwCxxpo0BtB3f7dkhEK21_ov64mLv-iG43JoQigqvMML4iry9R76AJc_2rJX_CYaFY2/s1600/20170429_204630.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWjaBJojK8ogpAwMmN6-OZt9eEzIT7BiHevBBZnIcxMn3LUxZEKlCxXEcpmjJ0K2XH6QNzMYPdpIwCxxpo0BtB3f7dkhEK21_ov64mLv-iG43JoQigqvMML4iry9R76AJc_2rJX_CYaFY2/s320/20170429_204630.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYiylQS4VCy6Zcc2eDdQOoblV6z_NRv0z_tlLjipNjWUurfmMS4d20BTsm9PnHgos2I52TK0kyvrmINLHUEAyFkja9lIwjQlevyWolkajecqYM2ulCfGpaMin4IL6zm68YkLVIFH27yYJY/s1600/20170507_162253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYiylQS4VCy6Zcc2eDdQOoblV6z_NRv0z_tlLjipNjWUurfmMS4d20BTsm9PnHgos2I52TK0kyvrmINLHUEAyFkja9lIwjQlevyWolkajecqYM2ulCfGpaMin4IL6zm68YkLVIFH27yYJY/s400/20170507_162253.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joe's first spring recital. I just love to listen to all of the kids play.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The younger kids finished school at the end of May. There were music recitals at school and two for Joe's violin group. There was a play that LE was in. There was a graduation ceremony that both kids played instruments in (Joe on violin and drums). The school also had a spring concert in which both kids played solos, and LE sang a solo.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiYyB2t-n_d8afnuSPq4xocVCGzUI6q7oPFwt1HJPYK6odlSP_w3KecHTF5nxIey2bsWIZHAt8M4BDurgOsN2-GGAg-ZpO-eKmOM0EVkiQvC6agg4b-kXUdnIDPZKKNZwR78Krns1x3kF8/s1600/20170702_142421_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiYyB2t-n_d8afnuSPq4xocVCGzUI6q7oPFwt1HJPYK6odlSP_w3KecHTF5nxIey2bsWIZHAt8M4BDurgOsN2-GGAg-ZpO-eKmOM0EVkiQvC6agg4b-kXUdnIDPZKKNZwR78Krns1x3kF8/s400/20170702_142421_001.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JJ in middle hamming it up as the youth group gets ready to head to Florida</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
JJ finished 11th grade, went to CamPossible as a volunteer and is just returning from a week in Florida with her youth group today. In another week she may go to high school camp at Camp MennoHaven. In August she will be a Leader in Training at Camp Oasis in Wisconsin. She wants to try public high school for her 12th grade year, which will be a wild transition with all her health issues, especially since she has never experienced normal public high school.<br />
<br />
CC came home from Bluffton University and is experiencing her own set of health issues. I think they are getting in better control, but she has seen three specialists (gyne, cardiology and neurology). We have ruled out seizures with a 5 day inpatient EEG ($30,000!). We have found help with her horrible periods with hormone therapy she can tolerate. We have found a medication that takes care of her chronic daily headaches. She is still having a lot of anxiety issues and dysautonomia symptoms.She is doing physical therapy, which hopefully will help her back pain.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDYtVtgm2oU4xJGckdQ2TAthhQMyTuVYVG3d-x8ww3D6saqK6qStyPPk9v6YILzXoYApX7-4h7OLYVKENKLrDqLaGpBAebcYYbpXox0BLhTuWHEnrVEbWbs2daHksVDceJA3D9z3F_ucv4/s1600/20170701_130244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDYtVtgm2oU4xJGckdQ2TAthhQMyTuVYVG3d-x8ww3D6saqK6qStyPPk9v6YILzXoYApX7-4h7OLYVKENKLrDqLaGpBAebcYYbpXox0BLhTuWHEnrVEbWbs2daHksVDceJA3D9z3F_ucv4/s400/20170701_130244.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm second from the right with the scissors.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdC5HBcLf9PKhe6ILeT8O8LQLuQy4_PZUnFrhO0vjJ7zb4mt-mJE_eFe7x3_vKQ9BpnYXn3Xic0ZyQK2j9EyYxUEWfymSEREJ7g7xwEcpHn2qxTGsRNZqPlt3xJ3vKfqrpdKy5UkhSHK5X/s1600/20170701_171607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdC5HBcLf9PKhe6ILeT8O8LQLuQy4_PZUnFrhO0vjJ7zb4mt-mJE_eFe7x3_vKQ9BpnYXn3Xic0ZyQK2j9EyYxUEWfymSEREJ7g7xwEcpHn2qxTGsRNZqPlt3xJ3vKfqrpdKy5UkhSHK5X/s400/20170701_171607.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joe and LE with a friend at Walnut Days showing off their balloon creations.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
On June 19, we opened the Perry Memorial Walnut Clinic. That has been an exciting adventure! Last weekend, July 1, we had an open house, grand opening and parade complete with ribbon cutting ceremony that went along with Walnut Days. The community seems very pleased to have us there.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAOh8iWGzqHTY8AtEqeuPsqZOqkHKKEzzmnPWF3ryi6vWOQJ7D2dYT8A57Qyng1QxZSldmWScwpMz4jUc9Z315ULDxaiG0QV5Q1h1NxiU9YESTx3x5umDvWR2zx_raqrL0LBUJ8Ogj7F_h/s1600/20170617_134807.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAOh8iWGzqHTY8AtEqeuPsqZOqkHKKEzzmnPWF3ryi6vWOQJ7D2dYT8A57Qyng1QxZSldmWScwpMz4jUc9Z315ULDxaiG0QV5Q1h1NxiU9YESTx3x5umDvWR2zx_raqrL0LBUJ8Ogj7F_h/s400/20170617_134807.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LE and Joe with DH after fishing contest. <br />LE won largest fish overall for the girls and largest catfish in her age category</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgnESAN8WUNvKb5_Ks0lUzdDnsvHSebPcusndX0nBhaet1_0P7kliFS1ePO8_ixAOqPx29qfhyphenhyphenWZIPulske3evBbcNxv3T4wjYns2C4tbML3jZrGFsl8wPODqQF_RQidkSQ_HFfAA0_3Xp/s1600/Elli+trophy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgnESAN8WUNvKb5_Ks0lUzdDnsvHSebPcusndX0nBhaet1_0P7kliFS1ePO8_ixAOqPx29qfhyphenhyphenWZIPulske3evBbcNxv3T4wjYns2C4tbML3jZrGFsl8wPODqQF_RQidkSQ_HFfAA0_3Xp/s320/Elli+trophy.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
On Monday, July 10, we will close on the house that we are buying. We've been living in a pretty primitive cabin in some woods. There is one window air conditioner and wood floors, walls and ceilings. It is dark (which helps it stay cool, but is hard on the girls with depressive tendencies). There is a large hole (5 inches across) that leads to the crawl space and if we don't cover it with the litter box, big spiders make their way into our home at night. Don't get me wrong, however, I am really grateful to have a place to live since we had to leave the camp we've been helping to staff at the beginning of the summer to make room for the new facilities director and his family and other summer staff. Our new house wasn't available yet and we otherwise would have found ourselves homeless.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHe45rFjmZyl2cQvPod14CXZIxa7AXBzwNuyszJqeiDFGOmyOX0hifOlp1FAhPGjJiDhKvmVB9Fgasp0GJ_R3OS25jCauBYvy1KCwpHQ2wYP-Vn4w0lwRRyF3nypKUn5buN-MWMtJ0DCkS/s1600/20170627_193132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHe45rFjmZyl2cQvPod14CXZIxa7AXBzwNuyszJqeiDFGOmyOX0hifOlp1FAhPGjJiDhKvmVB9Fgasp0GJ_R3OS25jCauBYvy1KCwpHQ2wYP-Vn4w0lwRRyF3nypKUn5buN-MWMtJ0DCkS/s400/20170627_193132.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the agreement DH had to read over and sign for his C-Pap machine!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Speaking of such things, DH is done at camp now. It was determined this spring that he would never be released from restrictions on his ankle to be able to do his job as facilities director. He gracefully bowed out. He went before a legal advocate (acting like a judge) on the worker's comp claim that they were trying to settle out of court. The advocate didn't feel like the insurance company was giving DH a fair deal, so he refused to sign it. He encouraged Tim to get a lawyer who can help get at least future medical coverage for when the ankle replacement needs to be redone in 10-15 years.Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09559958529491627022noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2135478613757790577.post-67885693250012453152017-04-15T07:33:00.008-08:002017-04-15T07:37:07.885-08:00Navy Pier trip to see Romeo and Juliet with Eliana<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Eliana's junior high from Princeton Christian Academy took a trip to Navy Pier in Chicago to see Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. We took a train from Princeton to Chicago, then rode a bus to the Navy Pier. After the show Eliana and I hung out with some of her friends and rode the giant ferris wheel and ate Chicago style deep dish pizza - yum! It was a fantastic trip and the show was amazing!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6rue8yXMNYAUvxLrCu1gq_SpMoh6oP9RT2P9SMpyQ6VrAVck1QjGTT_Jmfs0Y4SJFNUSQDMuicfVFe_SCBikub8ghp9i5S60ryap1aHERUba3FFo3ceENw48K1Qy2hHKxbMN5EW08Kfjt/s1600/20170324_080726.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6rue8yXMNYAUvxLrCu1gq_SpMoh6oP9RT2P9SMpyQ6VrAVck1QjGTT_Jmfs0Y4SJFNUSQDMuicfVFe_SCBikub8ghp9i5S60ryap1aHERUba3FFo3ceENw48K1Qy2hHKxbMN5EW08Kfjt/s400/20170324_080726.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLyDKBzH1_-czaBy00LLoWd9O6yPnG8Lp1PWRBawtWAtugo50ClSIwkPJ7pxR8boMZOjVB48TGACvfKkxAfM_vl6w_Iaa9-mLMrrjxpYiPEsxlGDHr6cWbNPL_AcLeaR6LrIAbQftx2P4G/s1600/20170324_081728.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLyDKBzH1_-czaBy00LLoWd9O6yPnG8Lp1PWRBawtWAtugo50ClSIwkPJ7pxR8boMZOjVB48TGACvfKkxAfM_vl6w_Iaa9-mLMrrjxpYiPEsxlGDHr6cWbNPL_AcLeaR6LrIAbQftx2P4G/s400/20170324_081728.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6V4vx4VSjr9BZ0fTKezlipIrq6wVcG7jVx3ZfJXLZluDxiRcLBmyX0id4z9IHeCFnTvN9L8xblOIjJw6fIMjojSexsU5DHXT3w84kOmUHDirzq-0AwGaUIoqgkzAgKFgWMEerWXSBPAuQ/s1600/20170324_084309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6V4vx4VSjr9BZ0fTKezlipIrq6wVcG7jVx3ZfJXLZluDxiRcLBmyX0id4z9IHeCFnTvN9L8xblOIjJw6fIMjojSexsU5DHXT3w84kOmUHDirzq-0AwGaUIoqgkzAgKFgWMEerWXSBPAuQ/s400/20170324_084309.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIo8u0Ib9rGfhM1xTJiLOLGxGF_TqgOwSHiAHEuzhrYLhyphenhyphen43x-786FKdLSKJ0GNmA0KhMtDsEiJhGMIhcM_foxQF7QK9udQmHv06c7gPyDOMgP8hrzZWF1mTQXVt5NgDeXLiajCppWvvqI/s1600/20170324_085605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIo8u0Ib9rGfhM1xTJiLOLGxGF_TqgOwSHiAHEuzhrYLhyphenhyphen43x-786FKdLSKJ0GNmA0KhMtDsEiJhGMIhcM_foxQF7QK9udQmHv06c7gPyDOMgP8hrzZWF1mTQXVt5NgDeXLiajCppWvvqI/s400/20170324_085605.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYgI-uWOaU0eP4VhyphenhypheneEIO_A2l9ksqFA1slkHTAkOiJhKNz9IDh-Unryn3eoD_BRjaVmeNVqltBGkNK240QKOfyBIcfp0Dl2biyyfs4SHHa4RNOpOPq-G2LWYcMPTXG9Y-ZJ9ACevZS725W/s1600/20170324_090317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYgI-uWOaU0eP4VhyphenhypheneEIO_A2l9ksqFA1slkHTAkOiJhKNz9IDh-Unryn3eoD_BRjaVmeNVqltBGkNK240QKOfyBIcfp0Dl2biyyfs4SHHa4RNOpOPq-G2LWYcMPTXG9Y-ZJ9ACevZS725W/s400/20170324_090317.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZNvyiiqvAJETb8XrOEnu_0dscRA7WyZeGFzwfw2guM3tFteJuEPXrLaBRZre-xcIrQLoujj-WtW7mYqVOWnkQOAFzLOutOOLNqNg_oD9vb9MVgjg7Tz08zORM8Iz-k70sNeL5z4SdgwuC/s1600/20170324_091405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZNvyiiqvAJETb8XrOEnu_0dscRA7WyZeGFzwfw2guM3tFteJuEPXrLaBRZre-xcIrQLoujj-WtW7mYqVOWnkQOAFzLOutOOLNqNg_oD9vb9MVgjg7Tz08zORM8Iz-k70sNeL5z4SdgwuC/s400/20170324_091405.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAF41ajoHTA6GOp1NQTHZpVFqCi5fP6sqweEV31Fq48RlXNDRtFyqpHtg33aZmSiR8Y5A9py4XQ0gw2wZOsqXCXkqWUeSTVHvkhJB2vcyMLjMjPJxnLAcaHHROmsK1C0-CpgBlNhndaRLP/s1600/20170324_142916.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAF41ajoHTA6GOp1NQTHZpVFqCi5fP6sqweEV31Fq48RlXNDRtFyqpHtg33aZmSiR8Y5A9py4XQ0gw2wZOsqXCXkqWUeSTVHvkhJB2vcyMLjMjPJxnLAcaHHROmsK1C0-CpgBlNhndaRLP/s400/20170324_142916.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5LlUyCROYv_cRMmq8RxsLZwJ2U3jol1PSoU-OJkEoTuu47BqsdSW23rdsGQwvVRkuwGqOMtIizCM1UFYJIGsXMFI_6pVZQiHnyOm7h_wLPaxZm8PR-9JpPiMyu7ghRHouAZnP46TXDWzC/s1600/20170324_150702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5LlUyCROYv_cRMmq8RxsLZwJ2U3jol1PSoU-OJkEoTuu47BqsdSW23rdsGQwvVRkuwGqOMtIizCM1UFYJIGsXMFI_6pVZQiHnyOm7h_wLPaxZm8PR-9JpPiMyu7ghRHouAZnP46TXDWzC/s400/20170324_150702.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZnbJs5ePxctvLNufEhlwGMa_zpiHkY8Rbs1cGA0IIZgQ_PiDy9njZeRYFxCXJX9R46F3j0XwsLbxNuNfq-XZLUpzn8dAuK_3rTqZRx6dBa6u4lieIvQU4QAmXWyH-GnjZfYRXg4AhSFH/s1600/20170324_150712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZnbJs5ePxctvLNufEhlwGMa_zpiHkY8Rbs1cGA0IIZgQ_PiDy9njZeRYFxCXJX9R46F3j0XwsLbxNuNfq-XZLUpzn8dAuK_3rTqZRx6dBa6u4lieIvQU4QAmXWyH-GnjZfYRXg4AhSFH/s400/20170324_150712.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYYvF1tBjX8IqBG2THVxy_E5Spuz1nsHZYIvCqingNhZNCZpUfviz91TU_0hKkNCkWq69ipZnIrotmFCEwICWclDmGLj7D0hmxTmUVelF3JtZzATfi2w-8H19ob1x03sUkP4WjaKfh5dgt/s1600/20170324_151251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYYvF1tBjX8IqBG2THVxy_E5Spuz1nsHZYIvCqingNhZNCZpUfviz91TU_0hKkNCkWq69ipZnIrotmFCEwICWclDmGLj7D0hmxTmUVelF3JtZzATfi2w-8H19ob1x03sUkP4WjaKfh5dgt/s400/20170324_151251.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCBoV-UvPdWDKtObjakR6LHsW4K_aKgmltxhYZoCGMyA_BY6o36JXzp3OjNP5OvNERfo6gULUUhZGJXoF3-LJo692xKrhz9zfywuF8M4y-MnVXEW4P6zkUNJGuaL4Vl9CAc3SLjvnftfDi/s1600/20170324_151310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCBoV-UvPdWDKtObjakR6LHsW4K_aKgmltxhYZoCGMyA_BY6o36JXzp3OjNP5OvNERfo6gULUUhZGJXoF3-LJo692xKrhz9zfywuF8M4y-MnVXEW4P6zkUNJGuaL4Vl9CAc3SLjvnftfDi/s400/20170324_151310.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil5z7_DuUEN92QQlkUbtxo_fh9ujZ8hlUPEvO0y8ZKuSGj2o3Il14JeL0U34ESWYB0XI2VRlrBIC1H8FkUBR0CxkrU7NQL-_-3f6CgMQ4w-HfJ2UmtUSkg7u7AHsXdNSrA18yOXzyCuNo6/s1600/20170324_151312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil5z7_DuUEN92QQlkUbtxo_fh9ujZ8hlUPEvO0y8ZKuSGj2o3Il14JeL0U34ESWYB0XI2VRlrBIC1H8FkUBR0CxkrU7NQL-_-3f6CgMQ4w-HfJ2UmtUSkg7u7AHsXdNSrA18yOXzyCuNo6/s400/20170324_151312.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz1EgEO4iyVDH3tlzgmFLdoFV4SbJkg8ki3ijwnbWmtxnYC9QkU2_xe7J_TuxkoMzHNy6BjZbu4gXAk0qfLzE5KrW9TmwFOpgtxfdKmC0lNqivEkQnxNhig0Amo3Cdkkib-Pir3FLkl388/s1600/20170324_151323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz1EgEO4iyVDH3tlzgmFLdoFV4SbJkg8ki3ijwnbWmtxnYC9QkU2_xe7J_TuxkoMzHNy6BjZbu4gXAk0qfLzE5KrW9TmwFOpgtxfdKmC0lNqivEkQnxNhig0Amo3Cdkkib-Pir3FLkl388/s400/20170324_151323.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcVafOhWStqE8EBlmrYiECKmIcKRzz-P1IfGeT89xCMAnBPeJZCMY9NECSaJEQjBwQFjfoVtENE3Cm17uIStaIHlZy_enwzU4o9Ufp7BrE2L8qN0JOMFx3zQZSzFGaSiSK6y5aHANqJwtc/s1600/20170324_155351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcVafOhWStqE8EBlmrYiECKmIcKRzz-P1IfGeT89xCMAnBPeJZCMY9NECSaJEQjBwQFjfoVtENE3Cm17uIStaIHlZy_enwzU4o9Ufp7BrE2L8qN0JOMFx3zQZSzFGaSiSK6y5aHANqJwtc/s400/20170324_155351.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGEkUEYxT2JEdcLGwatl1huyxQ0UWTXCTlxGBOi1L94DUd09qAL5Un2hf6ozzJ0wT6DFM8KAZYdJUyiAh2LG7lUWhBi54lYHJgiJIDP0ffW6PYMur3h2Bk6FxmomvwMxSqIR-nHgWpK2P4/s1600/20170324_155408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGEkUEYxT2JEdcLGwatl1huyxQ0UWTXCTlxGBOi1L94DUd09qAL5Un2hf6ozzJ0wT6DFM8KAZYdJUyiAh2LG7lUWhBi54lYHJgiJIDP0ffW6PYMur3h2Bk6FxmomvwMxSqIR-nHgWpK2P4/s400/20170324_155408.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisBemUCFHTk3ARb2aDc4Ln-axWTUK_L6d663M2Ici9t86yBCswEbi0XG-Ciwv87d8BIKquxi6onlCXjHkAeCLViWNVGP0v99UG2gq6aUj2o8Jnqn5aH4MOdHV7NqmeNeirZTmi30zUyv-4/s1600/20170324_155448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisBemUCFHTk3ARb2aDc4Ln-axWTUK_L6d663M2Ici9t86yBCswEbi0XG-Ciwv87d8BIKquxi6onlCXjHkAeCLViWNVGP0v99UG2gq6aUj2o8Jnqn5aH4MOdHV7NqmeNeirZTmi30zUyv-4/s400/20170324_155448.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />Carol Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14378692662567620945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2135478613757790577.post-37195382321265180752017-04-15T06:57:00.001-08:002017-04-15T06:57:02.856-08:00Illinois Valley Honor Band<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Elli was chosen as one of three from her school to be a part of the area wide junior high honor band. She was thrilled to be chosen. They went on two separate occasions. The first was an evening to practice together. The next was to actually perform for us. It was a great experience for her.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj24iOho3OF1zKpGVvn8zUFwksGZC2AFoZldVadJqD85Ng3qOF95r4d8zuLaV6_E3gG-DPM8LQ0EeyDING-L4jLt511ObsfYT7Z5JIGsRAejdpmRht17hTEpb24B6mrw2UEBv8UPocrYSGE/s1600/20170204_155351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj24iOho3OF1zKpGVvn8zUFwksGZC2AFoZldVadJqD85Ng3qOF95r4d8zuLaV6_E3gG-DPM8LQ0EeyDING-L4jLt511ObsfYT7Z5JIGsRAejdpmRht17hTEpb24B6mrw2UEBv8UPocrYSGE/s400/20170204_155351.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi05yFwOdPS6OjJGXEgTDAHN9oUI0Ts-cramazmLgy-gI9me_lGbmmPU8EQrgMxl_I4xLI0vzHFnmKZu2msx_J94qqNSe-hnAEIB8E3aLuoO7ec9VLeK1XU9xLBA8CrlI8bX3vdiKceIhVl/s1600/20170204_155357.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi05yFwOdPS6OjJGXEgTDAHN9oUI0Ts-cramazmLgy-gI9me_lGbmmPU8EQrgMxl_I4xLI0vzHFnmKZu2msx_J94qqNSe-hnAEIB8E3aLuoO7ec9VLeK1XU9xLBA8CrlI8bX3vdiKceIhVl/s400/20170204_155357.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLAqMHSBEtBFxAZIb7_Xv7xoZtwcCG58g-WqqmSGIwbuPmT6ccjwpL8lx64Vz88X7moyUI4F8BAVg40ZuxUTzSUIq46S_Tawpv_HzlP5gdbCi0BJBhazlgg6ncHKeeyIEQhqy-U5sW45TM/s1600/20170204_155440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLAqMHSBEtBFxAZIb7_Xv7xoZtwcCG58g-WqqmSGIwbuPmT6ccjwpL8lx64Vz88X7moyUI4F8BAVg40ZuxUTzSUIq46S_Tawpv_HzlP5gdbCi0BJBhazlgg6ncHKeeyIEQhqy-U5sW45TM/s400/20170204_155440.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGpr25WWDIcGKpT7ojDiFZyVJ4913jdFyMnHIVtEbNTmEYTyaCr7itfPhcLcMktJ0IV0pqQeIqLkNhwGh00GkNcydlZrJj-GD498J9ymzQxHYeRJFtXv-NSoxnclKk9D38afAKtqbogFCS/s1600/20170204_155504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGpr25WWDIcGKpT7ojDiFZyVJ4913jdFyMnHIVtEbNTmEYTyaCr7itfPhcLcMktJ0IV0pqQeIqLkNhwGh00GkNcydlZrJj-GD498J9ymzQxHYeRJFtXv-NSoxnclKk9D38afAKtqbogFCS/s400/20170204_155504.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeNoFsg1oS9hRgNNJAQ0D2yst3DmGY9OXE4Ws1qZuGiHikKw2FDAdSNSoXneytJSoLXSdG7guHxQfJBNP1nn327xzgjZTu7WXBM4y0Il112ACkbWFxsUvyT9AvA-kQer8s5wFg69AyHHU5/s1600/20170204_161205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeNoFsg1oS9hRgNNJAQ0D2yst3DmGY9OXE4Ws1qZuGiHikKw2FDAdSNSoXneytJSoLXSdG7guHxQfJBNP1nn327xzgjZTu7WXBM4y0Il112ACkbWFxsUvyT9AvA-kQer8s5wFg69AyHHU5/s400/20170204_161205.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmRteUGkItKa3IBb6lFgzSt3ffh0UZr9umnyhKLZetZBU55X7LpE5WSFMqPTRato2JEXR7fzv-G-PSuxaHJeLSgzAI4RlDJbNlcuLyWwDb5EwEBLkk3axKuUXgzaqdLlTj2_fO7EKFn31O/s1600/20170204_161620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmRteUGkItKa3IBb6lFgzSt3ffh0UZr9umnyhKLZetZBU55X7LpE5WSFMqPTRato2JEXR7fzv-G-PSuxaHJeLSgzAI4RlDJbNlcuLyWwDb5EwEBLkk3axKuUXgzaqdLlTj2_fO7EKFn31O/s400/20170204_161620.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq5wkMbrUZHhzbnD1qbcBeAZdGJx67WQ-5GPz0NjF3wVKpBzxSmy8ml3q7hf2FDvCi4RFW1oCo3EZpBrPncDLLenxv__5-SzpvjdFB4tIpHYin3uI4d0x6HbS7e9Swk7C_epdF52tVnQum/s1600/20170204_163114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq5wkMbrUZHhzbnD1qbcBeAZdGJx67WQ-5GPz0NjF3wVKpBzxSmy8ml3q7hf2FDvCi4RFW1oCo3EZpBrPncDLLenxv__5-SzpvjdFB4tIpHYin3uI4d0x6HbS7e9Swk7C_epdF52tVnQum/s400/20170204_163114.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the right is her teacher, Mrs. Dawn Marshall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Carol Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14378692662567620945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2135478613757790577.post-15311007261108740352017-04-15T06:42:00.003-08:002017-04-15T06:42:49.829-08:00Tim's Recovery and Prayers about What's Next<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH8-tTKHg9NZt9zVmBtcx3MVgYkwbjMVTJihwBzAXkQadVnMUCrabiO_N4uVuPXa4Xg4iZe1Hn6dzO949FFXozhuovE9k516X9usnM0NFdzfK5tuj2J9uA00Rv97p5bxC25QzyPR1xuRqT/s1600/20170304_153213.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH8-tTKHg9NZt9zVmBtcx3MVgYkwbjMVTJihwBzAXkQadVnMUCrabiO_N4uVuPXa4Xg4iZe1Hn6dzO949FFXozhuovE9k516X9usnM0NFdzfK5tuj2J9uA00Rv97p5bxC25QzyPR1xuRqT/s400/20170304_153213.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
Tim has been trying his hand at making knives.</div>
<div>
In this picture he is doing a method of patina which </div>
<div>
decorates the blade with a design which causes a protective</div>
<div>
oxidation that also prohibits bad rust.</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Tim finally finished the last day of his work conditioning yesterday. He has been lifting heavy boxes, carrying 80 lb beams, walking on treadmill, riding an exercise bike, using a stair stepper, riding an arm bike, lifting weights, carrying 5 gallon buckets around the room, pushing and pulling a loaded sled around, going up and down a step-ladder, shoveling fake snow, stretching, working on balance apparatuses, stretching and undergoing manual joint manipulation. Oh, and he said he had to operate a remote (LOL!)<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG1LUBiiEj5gJmgB9ziDvL8xa_M5RMh0sUqfJ3dWRaO5pnlyon5HtXCcDgFRwtSr7yQ5FmkWj2mKiffvNJpeB2FGRDHQeyyqLdq2XHKqoTzKKvKcld5YykbIdVAgFGATzteKMwbxaTuacM/s1600/20170203_202403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG1LUBiiEj5gJmgB9ziDvL8xa_M5RMh0sUqfJ3dWRaO5pnlyon5HtXCcDgFRwtSr7yQ5FmkWj2mKiffvNJpeB2FGRDHQeyyqLdq2XHKqoTzKKvKcld5YykbIdVAgFGATzteKMwbxaTuacM/s400/20170203_202403.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
The kids joined a group from our church at some friends' house </div>
<div>
for making valentines in February.</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
His ankle doctor has released him back to work by increments. In about 5 weeks he will be able to work full time. Right now he is supposed to work 4 hours a day, then in another week, he'd be allowed to work 6 hours a week. Finally two weeks after that, he could work full time (8 hour days). Unfortunately, the director of the camp he worked at is gone on sabbatical and won't be back for another 2 weeks. Another person is doing Tim's job in the interim of his leave (since last August). We don't really know if he will have a job now or if this other person will be better suited to the job and replace him permanently. The boss has been forbidden to talk to Tim about anything work related due to his worker's comp restrictions. This has been very awkward for us and them. Tim hasn't talked to him about what the future holds for us for months.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRG77LZ6gJmEKuD4vg07hUfu_9sSqPxv5Gkf-JH4Ebn25sn3IbfVL4rF8f5OPfwPGb-jaQldyasu2WL7JLyqcFg1afAncNji1jAsP3KQEnPfvyZFR1LvqXMQIlq_IUiWRhoZDbdj1H1Nsl/s1600/20170219_140618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRG77LZ6gJmEKuD4vg07hUfu_9sSqPxv5Gkf-JH4Ebn25sn3IbfVL4rF8f5OPfwPGb-jaQldyasu2WL7JLyqcFg1afAncNji1jAsP3KQEnPfvyZFR1LvqXMQIlq_IUiWRhoZDbdj1H1Nsl/s400/20170219_140618.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
This possum was sitting on a log near the driveway to Camp</div>
<div>
Menno Haven in February. He just sat there and stared and let</div>
<div>
us take picture. Sorry for the blurriness. It was taken on my</div>
<div>
phone with a zoom.</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAjxrmOhgh3jh2f6o7FE3owPfVj06DFuAltpH97A6x2xQmGA4aR5CBriTNYiSEob4XpS4_6_npJL9_F2kAsVm_psKybkMyfOIQUspGuG8Liax9p2otBY0JSxCBLJQ11KdItD_yHcMng2jb/s1600/20170226_150703.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAjxrmOhgh3jh2f6o7FE3owPfVj06DFuAltpH97A6x2xQmGA4aR5CBriTNYiSEob4XpS4_6_npJL9_F2kAsVm_psKybkMyfOIQUspGuG8Liax9p2otBY0JSxCBLJQ11KdItD_yHcMng2jb/s400/20170226_150703.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
This muskrat decided to walk along the sidewalk in Sterling</div>
<div>
right in front of my car when I started home from work on a </div>
<div>
weekend day at Ready Care. I wasn't sure what this oversized</div>
<div>
rodent was when I first saw it!</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
We've been wondering what God has for us next, of course. Will it be here? We do want to stay in the area. We've looked at houses around us, but can't make an offer unless we know for sure we have to move. We've seen some houses we liked be sold out from under us. We've considered moving to Plow Creek again. That is an intentional Christian community not far from here where we lived in the early 2000s. That community is in limbo now. They are considering closing their doors, but that hasn't been decided for sure. There is still a core group of people who are interested in reviving/reinventing it, and we are considering being a part of that. Lots of things to pray about!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWJO4DhrpVXsQGOwwo1VDBlVl2lDAFkSvjlYIq6ohRz5IcNowYHaSCDa5r9hNnV18y5IzHuMFt_bRqpQ5Bjv-7FAdlAFiUbme5aLWaRMq8MqKQhjntG3IHukWrrVveEvVNXllykg5y0g1s/s1600/20170302_130041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWJO4DhrpVXsQGOwwo1VDBlVl2lDAFkSvjlYIq6ohRz5IcNowYHaSCDa5r9hNnV18y5IzHuMFt_bRqpQ5Bjv-7FAdlAFiUbme5aLWaRMq8MqKQhjntG3IHukWrrVveEvVNXllykg5y0g1s/s400/20170302_130041.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIJqgNecswdO2MleuqkAPhSwWxwkw2DuhXXMSK_0uICr4AbuW2-MTCSb_g4J9tDleWR8JdG9EbQqM2t9nHGpMQGQ15MaIFQniHdeEyZenEvoJ3Tpw6rAyPfOW3vH8E57hXhusyh6Pt-AYi/s1600/20170304_121403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIJqgNecswdO2MleuqkAPhSwWxwkw2DuhXXMSK_0uICr4AbuW2-MTCSb_g4J9tDleWR8JdG9EbQqM2t9nHGpMQGQ15MaIFQniHdeEyZenEvoJ3Tpw6rAyPfOW3vH8E57hXhusyh6Pt-AYi/s400/20170304_121403.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Flour House in Princeton</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc3u3In-v7CQVGrQg9FXDdfeEu_VQA_cSvp4QCuyy404yxF4Ag6VO8CPRhrbzXpaCaltJbt-2OJqc2od8i8ySGYvPTuOnkmbcJih3yXAkNxsYwF5Cv3eJBWBafO3I6cMvWqvOlzfWh2gzT/s1600/20170304_121430.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc3u3In-v7CQVGrQg9FXDdfeEu_VQA_cSvp4QCuyy404yxF4Ag6VO8CPRhrbzXpaCaltJbt-2OJqc2od8i8ySGYvPTuOnkmbcJih3yXAkNxsYwF5Cv3eJBWBafO3I6cMvWqvOlzfWh2gzT/s400/20170304_121430.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
Ciara home for spring break. </div>
<div>
We are enjoying some time at the Flour House in Princeton.</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiPBsByupad4MSvUuAEKhXUQcyqt72-PPKSrjfra_MtDma28Io3x5pI6C08O4gPoN0NdfhIkEeDekGG4ChcRgHAhoIX1GYOeGhLBp-kcWHlmKO-rtnhn3ck4YAcN19sjPRV_y2n0nX7Ytu/s1600/20170311_101315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiPBsByupad4MSvUuAEKhXUQcyqt72-PPKSrjfra_MtDma28Io3x5pI6C08O4gPoN0NdfhIkEeDekGG4ChcRgHAhoIX1GYOeGhLBp-kcWHlmKO-rtnhn3ck4YAcN19sjPRV_y2n0nX7Ytu/s400/20170311_101315.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
Our friends had an accident that we came upon on our way home from Princeton</div>
<div>
on another day. Thankfully, no one was seriously injured.</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYVJwV8pHGFYoXR0QGIprALSGBl2JnZjwjLgMyTzM09OExa1V0HXWvcAVKp1EUWGstzeeT6GaK_KraEyiCUT3WY2aeffE8S99I8H5xDMOD7UOJk7Wml_Uk-k-UT0rVcMvgXkg7gdhNYJHh/s1600/20170401_105921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYVJwV8pHGFYoXR0QGIprALSGBl2JnZjwjLgMyTzM09OExa1V0HXWvcAVKp1EUWGstzeeT6GaK_KraEyiCUT3WY2aeffE8S99I8H5xDMOD7UOJk7Wml_Uk-k-UT0rVcMvgXkg7gdhNYJHh/s400/20170401_105921.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
My new employer, Perry Memorial Hospital, put on a</div>
<div>
community educational event a couple weeks ago.</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidrFReMxT2VWx7mxCh9aOhHiyuSV4_NVxD-0mDcV7LzT0vbBlX9GNuIt-faO7OzfD0PzhZTiLUZwHRUhD_gwLGALzs_alTAPaD-9u_q-XChR6I9AAMYmpMpDyqsuzpWqXFLIv8zcwsoNPY/s1600/20170401_110016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidrFReMxT2VWx7mxCh9aOhHiyuSV4_NVxD-0mDcV7LzT0vbBlX9GNuIt-faO7OzfD0PzhZTiLUZwHRUhD_gwLGALzs_alTAPaD-9u_q-XChR6I9AAMYmpMpDyqsuzpWqXFLIv8zcwsoNPY/s400/20170401_110016.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiHjQjniI3pKPiqlJYlIDvhesZEE0bcnu454iMhyphenhyphenKZs1-AZSOk07o_tfccL_la_kmBPS2_QUwANZFW1xQrnv5Werxj8BSvKdgHmqmsIU1azgLSUbzljz2mzEkZmxrx6WXYv3EyRImSmtRP/s1600/FB_IMG_1487558743062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiHjQjniI3pKPiqlJYlIDvhesZEE0bcnu454iMhyphenhyphenKZs1-AZSOk07o_tfccL_la_kmBPS2_QUwANZFW1xQrnv5Werxj8BSvKdgHmqmsIU1azgLSUbzljz2mzEkZmxrx6WXYv3EyRImSmtRP/s400/FB_IMG_1487558743062.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
My nephew Cannon, in the middle, is fighting a rare form of sarcoma.</div>
<div>
Posing with him is his brother Matthew and sister Melissa.</div>
<div>
Please pray for his full recovery and the cancer to die!</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Carol Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14378692662567620945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2135478613757790577.post-75039029787045177082017-01-01T09:00:00.000-09:002017-01-01T09:25:28.859-09:00Happy New Year 2017<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCRt-iOEHGE4mJIeA7DDgnRl6GNsvw6eC146mRtm-IfegcJdmVgj-VDQ1Hs12sOQCAQFpdctRcfGdczSgAlHQPBPv6LXu74bRbWcTkYhJ7IPWtKh_orJqRArfy-ikrXolGhtu-bYRV_Wsz/s1600/20161112_122833.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCRt-iOEHGE4mJIeA7DDgnRl6GNsvw6eC146mRtm-IfegcJdmVgj-VDQ1Hs12sOQCAQFpdctRcfGdczSgAlHQPBPv6LXu74bRbWcTkYhJ7IPWtKh_orJqRArfy-ikrXolGhtu-bYRV_Wsz/s400/20161112_122833.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
Tim and I having a date at the Flour House in Princeton.</div>
<div>
I love the ambiance of this little bakery/coffee shop.</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCAyYgwHU4IND7UQsx_dv80pW44VzhsqMT2GqIf3MqICzMp4Y43JCMWQ450K9hZ5BRkMbgSc8ZBGfYl3YvpoAIW0BckzPftBD9ueISjg9Z71OXEpZbp5CvTzXl0SXkqEwod3rnU9gJwzn_/s1600/1479180002433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCAyYgwHU4IND7UQsx_dv80pW44VzhsqMT2GqIf3MqICzMp4Y43JCMWQ450K9hZ5BRkMbgSc8ZBGfYl3YvpoAIW0BckzPftBD9ueISjg9Z71OXEpZbp5CvTzXl0SXkqEwod3rnU9gJwzn_/s400/1479180002433.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
My dear JJ. Pray that 2017 will be her year for healing and</div>
<div>
getting her life back.</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCAyYgwHU4IND7UQsx_dv80pW44VzhsqMT2GqIf3MqICzMp4Y43JCMWQ450K9hZ5BRkMbgSc8ZBGfYl3YvpoAIW0BckzPftBD9ueISjg9Z71OXEpZbp5CvTzXl0SXkqEwod3rnU9gJwzn_/s1600/1479180002433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ2dmC_-P5yd-Ol0o49jw2tnuilB2yoqTGBc-QBD6O4JMfFqC7RBMeJyqCZB0ymUPOUL2uHOJeuMeB-wPuCwYMMWGwyzFAsTLrM3L1yWej9YAoyN-LHJFCYPOmAarHXE1ppquFzGE4c5IN/s1600/20161117_172903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ2dmC_-P5yd-Ol0o49jw2tnuilB2yoqTGBc-QBD6O4JMfFqC7RBMeJyqCZB0ymUPOUL2uHOJeuMeB-wPuCwYMMWGwyzFAsTLrM3L1yWej9YAoyN-LHJFCYPOmAarHXE1ppquFzGE4c5IN/s1600/20161117_172903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>2016 started on the heels of a rough fall 2015 with <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCAyYgwHU4IND7UQsx_dv80pW44VzhsqMT2GqIf3MqICzMp4Y43JCMWQ450K9hZ5BRkMbgSc8ZBGfYl3YvpoAIW0BckzPftBD9ueISjg9Z71OXEpZbp5CvTzXl0SXkqEwod3rnU9gJwzn_/s1600/1479180002433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><br /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
JJ's health issues going sour and three hospitalizations. She crashed in April on all fields - GI pain, depression, seizures and spent 9 days in another hospital scenario. We seem to have <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCRt-iOEHGE4mJIeA7DDgnRl6GNsvw6eC146mRtm-IfegcJdmVgj-VDQ1Hs12sOQCAQFpdctRcfGdczSgAlHQPBPv6LXu74bRbWcTkYhJ7IPWtKh_orJqRArfy-ikrXolGhtu-bYRV_Wsz/s1600/20161112_122833.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>gotten into a vortex that we can't seem to pull out of and move forward with her. I kept her home this year to keep the stress at a minimum. She gained weight up to 125 lbs and grew another 3/4 inch, muc<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ2dmC_-P5yd-Ol0o49jw2tnuilB2yoqTGBc-QBD6O4JMfFqC7RBMeJyqCZB0ymUPOUL2uHOJeuMeB-wPuCwYMMWGwyzFAsTLrM3L1yWej9YAoyN-LHJFCYPOmAarHXE1ppquFzGE4c5IN/s1600/20161117_172903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ2dmC_-P5yd-Ol0o49jw2tnuilB2yoqTGBc-QBD6O4JMfFqC7RBMeJyqCZB0ymUPOUL2uHOJeuMeB-wPuCwYMMWGwyzFAsTLrM3L1yWej9YAoyN-LHJFCYPOmAarHXE1ppquFzGE4c5IN/s1600/20161117_172903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>h to her delight. In the fall she started sliding backwards again - the seizures returned over the past 2-3 months on a weekly basis. We tried another seizure medicine but couldn't get past the lowest dose due to severe depression, suicidal feelings, abdominal pain and weight loss. She still is slipping down on her weight and is down to about 114 again. It is very discouraging. We are frustrated with her current GI, who never seems to offer much hope of improvement and doesn't really try anything new either. We have started at another GI's office, and have been waiting 2 weeks since our visit to have all her other records gathered and reviewed. Our current GI seems to look at her through Crohn's glasses only, look at her labs and past scopes, and say, "oh looks like her Crohn's is in remission" and then don't try to figure out what the problem is. My biggest pet peeve is the diagnosis IBS. It really is a catch-all for "I don't know what the heck is wrong, so I'm just going to throw antispasmotics her way and hope she gets better." We've tried all the traditional IBS meds, but most of them increase her seizure activity. Their answer for her weight loss and rectal pain was a painful rectal ultrasound, in spite of her abnormal MRI, and not only that, but they wanted me to figure out who could do it. I've given up hope that the original GI will ever move forward with her. In January she will see a new neurologist as well, since she's pretty much blown through anything the current neurologist feels she can offer.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoX2f0uATyDni0IZ1gOOmHiGb_xDeml97QAVQl39vct3dx7hRXNc6vjcLQGig3Q_v7jTByclwvPdOGFOISmnSyGZF_BCCpljlHGqygK4H832DECQAxrL0N_Pwm7m2QiUqQ_zE5gjBZRY31/s1600/20161126_185326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoX2f0uATyDni0IZ1gOOmHiGb_xDeml97QAVQl39vct3dx7hRXNc6vjcLQGig3Q_v7jTByclwvPdOGFOISmnSyGZF_BCCpljlHGqygK4H832DECQAxrL0N_Pwm7m2QiUqQ_zE5gjBZRY31/s1600/20161126_185326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoX2f0uATyDni0IZ1gOOmHiGb_xDeml97QAVQl39vct3dx7hRXNc6vjcLQGig3Q_v7jTByclwvPdOGFOISmnSyGZF_BCCpljlHGqygK4H832DECQAxrL0N_Pwm7m2QiUqQ_zE5gjBZRY31/s400/20161126_185326.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CC, LE, me, JoJo, JJ</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
CC finished her firs<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1O_4E2lGt7CYlicmg_vBlw5LGAcbxbcAENX_y6ski1g77Cra4BwKmPQwFjR6MkWQwuX9g41tscldl0HBGNJZ9G0LqytaD-czmH_WzISqcQbWSZiY9DCgt9IC80o7FAqfzGR4mHrn7iqwV/s1600/20161126_185326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1O_4E2lGt7CYlicmg_vBlw5LGAcbxbcAENX_y6ski1g77Cra4BwKmPQwFjR6MkWQwuX9g41tscldl0HBGNJZ9G0LqytaD-czmH_WzISqcQbWSZiY9DCgt9IC80o7FAqfzGR4mHrn7iqwV/s1600/20161126_185326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>t semester with high standing - As and Bs. She is feeling much better about school. She isn't having as much back pain, but seems tired all the time. We took her to the doctor over Christmas break and found some things out of whack, and have made a few changes in her medications. Hopefully this makes a great improvement in her life. On New Year's Eve, she ended the year with a bang, literally, when she was involved in a motor vehicle accident which totaled our beater van. Fortunately only her pride was hurt.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoX2f0uATyDni0IZ1gOOmHiGb_xDeml97QAVQl39vct3dx7hRXNc6vjcLQGig3Q_v7jTByclwvPdOGFOISmnSyGZF_BCCpljlHGqygK4H832DECQAxrL0N_Pwm7m2QiUqQ_zE5gjBZRY31/s1600/20161126_185326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0RnL-bhKMXUVD8JvqMZ-RWXOHFafsvXff57PPsOmDJuxSkTadBG1tGJyT5XW45zNobX_EBdGX1hj9aqPwQ9KcKt9g1Xe9maUlFIMiN90e5K-Wl4rtPBMzfUFykpqzvCr-kF4WY5b2u5Zf/s1600/20161110_182131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0RnL-bhKMXUVD8JvqMZ-RWXOHFafsvXff57PPsOmDJuxSkTadBG1tGJyT5XW45zNobX_EBdGX1hj9aqPwQ9KcKt9g1Xe9maUlFIMiN90e5K-Wl4rtPBMzfUFykpqzvCr-kF4WY5b2u5Zf/s320/20161110_182131.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LE is on the right between cheers. Isn't she cute?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
LE had a great semester overall. Her grades are outstandi<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCRt-iOEHGE4mJIeA7DDgnRl6GNsvw6eC146mRtm-IfegcJdmVgj-VDQ1Hs12sOQCAQFpdctRcfGdczSgAlHQPBPv6LXu74bRbWcTkYhJ7IPWtKh_orJqRArfy-ikrXolGhtu-bYRV_Wsz/s1600/20161112_122833.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCRt-iOEHGE4mJIeA7DDgnRl6GNsvw6eC146mRtm-IfegcJdmVgj-VDQ1Hs12sOQCAQFpdctRcfGdczSgAlHQPBPv6LXu74bRbWcTkYhJ7IPWtKh_orJqRArfy-ikrXolGhtu-bYRV_Wsz/s1600/20161112_122833.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>ng - the best I've seen for her. She is making friends, was a cheerleader for boys basketball, continued her flute at school and with Music Suite 408. Just before Christmas break, she found out that she was invited to be in the area wide Junior High Honor Band. She had many concerts this fall and Christmastime and was in a school wide Christmas musical with a solo part. She has grown so much in her flute skills and actually thanked me for making her keep with it.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-b9V-IWxgOxs2lJ5UeDA6-E9-GS5oMTUu9lOtcFwavpWK48K68-wI4eYyIVejR3u6COetuAgFEOAYAUYKIdB3Awg6CdnclngD_5pa3Egnip5WRJfV1Fh6TUPmcLipeHw9RbS70Y2Iwetq/s1600/20161109_175711.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-b9V-IWxgOxs2lJ5UeDA6-E9-GS5oMTUu9lOtcFwavpWK48K68-wI4eYyIVejR3u6COetuAgFEOAYAUYKIdB3Awg6CdnclngD_5pa3Egnip5WRJfV1Fh6TUPmcLipeHw9RbS70Y2Iwetq/s400/20161109_175711.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Celebrating JoJo's 10th birthday in November.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
JoJo is thriving at Princeton Christian Academy as well. This sem<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ2dmC_-P5yd-Ol0o49jw2tnuilB2yoqTGBc-QBD6O4JMfFqC7RBMeJyqCZB0ymUPOUL2uHOJeuMeB-wPuCwYMMWGwyzFAsTLrM3L1yWej9YAoyN-LHJFCYPOmAarHXE1ppquFzGE4c5IN/s1600/20161117_172903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ2dmC_-P5yd-Ol0o49jw2tnuilB2yoqTGBc-QBD6O4JMfFqC7RBMeJyqCZB0ymUPOUL2uHOJeuMeB-wPuCwYMMWGwyzFAsTLrM3L1yWej9YAoyN-LHJFCYPOmAarHXE1ppquFzGE4c5IN/s1600/20161117_172903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>ester he was involved with basketball, whic<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEoUlkB8bO6PflFpBB5OYxs5FXoQuVFYTEsoUnPDUNvqyuZddQPbQLhwkH7OvVPe2Kgc6ea7_TbXLCTo-G4IduozjYCFI-JEap9-7mgeyRg8lsfBR02d1kGiEATFMotrTMTtmRJxqHoHCg/s1600/20161126_172359.mp4" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0RnL-bhKMXUVD8JvqMZ-RWXOHFafsvXff57PPsOmDJuxSkTadBG1tGJyT5XW45zNobX_EBdGX1hj9aqPwQ9KcKt9g1Xe9maUlFIMiN90e5K-Wl4rtPBMzfUFykpqzvCr-kF4WY5b2u5Zf/s1600/20161110_182131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>h was a very good thing. I loved the coaches and the whole atmosphere of it at PCA. Joe is also busy with his violin and has started doing percussion with his school band.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLdwwlLUpoibUXs7m7LTMuyHEGUZ_-sadW2ehLNBf10G5ZeyXOqKzIjeFT9wsFlvoicjhcmx7lHUVFimWyXxcr_4UGHV97sC3x3Kaz70xCkcvtvO8dW8IHVNMwNZZX_nS57L9U56U3NLf7/s1600/FB_IMG_1479404677778.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLdwwlLUpoibUXs7m7LTMuyHEGUZ_-sadW2ehLNBf10G5ZeyXOqKzIjeFT9wsFlvoicjhcmx7lHUVFimWyXxcr_4UGHV97sC3x3Kaz70xCkcvtvO8dW8IHVNMwNZZX_nS57L9U56U3NLf7/s400/FB_IMG_1479404677778.jpg" width="233" /></a></div>
Tim had his second surgery in September, a total ankle replacement. He is now out of his boot and walking unassisted, but he is still having a lot of pain in his foot. He does therapy 3 times a week. They said that he should be able to do light duty in February. I hope that his foot stops hurting by then. They also said he'd be back to full duty in April. We are waiting for a call from a place that does orthotics so that he can get some, but there seems to be a hold up due to the holidays. We're hoping that these help with his foot pain. In the picture to the left, he is eating at a the Naf Naf Grill in Orland Park during one of our trips to see his surgeon. He really enjoyed this.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvR8vkD34y4GZem3xzDVFJ31_p9gId0D91GHe7DN_Ufn5KO62hxtxk_iSZMBTBfI4Hcf60V7JR8xI4zcE6RZEgx_3JSnjOPMxyoUHYyuqTJMQja4LuwK71YkjIsWsxGKYG6aXO3k4BXmkV/s1600/20161105_111924.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><br /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvR8vkD34y4GZem3xzDVFJ31_p9gId0D91GHe7DN_Ufn5KO62hxtxk_iSZMBTBfI4Hcf60V7JR8xI4zcE6RZEgx_3JSnjOPMxyoUHYyuqTJMQja4LuwK71YkjIsWsxGKYG6aXO3k4BXmkV/s1600/20161105_111924.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvR8vkD34y4GZem3xzDVFJ31_p9gId0D91GHe7DN_Ufn5KO62hxtxk_iSZMBTBfI4Hcf60V7JR8xI4zcE6RZEgx_3JSnjOPMxyoUHYyuqTJMQja4LuwK71YkjIsWsxGKYG6aXO3k4BXmkV/s400/20161105_111924.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
We lit the Hanukkah candles this year. It is a small thing, but reminds us God has things under control and He is our light when the world is a dark place. This Moses bush on the right also reminds me of God shining hope in my life when things are overwhelmingly dark.<br />
<br />
Tim's father passed away peacefully just before Thanksgiving. We were able to see all of the Gales and many other family friends that week. Christmas day was spent peacefully with Tim's mother and a local friend we invited to share it with us. Randy has been very good to reach out to Tim during his convalescence.<br />
<br />
One last mention before I close, is that two close family members were diagnosed with cancer this year. My 48 year old sister in law was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent chemo and radiation and surgery. My 19 year old nephew was diagnosed with Ewings Sarcoma over Christmas break. He underwent surgery just before Christmas and is suffering as he waits to see the oncologist for further treatment and answers this month.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEictaG97Dx8VeYC4xkimPxE0-t8bNZIq8j4_OPazMxEZzAalnM8e1DqIDumXNBHCKP86iRPTrVCdMsQd8oMzG1kgssZMOKUzIJBWVYee9Rkcsru7aAWh7aSHnzKtCPdnBoHZNpKcFw9Pr4t/s1600/20161124_160614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEictaG97Dx8VeYC4xkimPxE0-t8bNZIq8j4_OPazMxEZzAalnM8e1DqIDumXNBHCKP86iRPTrVCdMsQd8oMzG1kgssZMOKUzIJBWVYee9Rkcsru7aAWh7aSHnzKtCPdnBoHZNpKcFw9Pr4t/s640/20161124_160614.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
Tim's dad passed away just before Thanksgiving. </div>
<div>
Here is a picture of all the Gale cousins gathering for Thanksgiving. </div>
<div>
Being near family in times like this is wonderful.</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH9k8Uc7JmCTo_tVX8lXAAcCoQGen09TeCT0a07RsEbwopz2QxCxdjivhiIeIRjSc_P0Io__XAuSurV_5HWNQtGIfGJhDMqrjg4fm5x8dTqYKRPaeJZ6C9mGYWb5Zx8zMNOZnDpGUKVp5-/s1600/20161126_155657.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw5qgJfkcn-9ZvzKuEkKWDvWNC0IVB0ePznzPHjWxzLXqFpvWjA22n5w4uCMqtVKY3bc125hYP9y5XBfl2Lwn6YfH5olzUsGs5_oYImGDUXiH2pfcccSOmZqlDbGvFiJlDj9DIaFpj-Tjq/s1600/FB_IMG_1479404677778.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
Carol Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14378692662567620945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2135478613757790577.post-56212538106428043582016-10-20T08:32:00.001-08:002016-10-24T13:23:11.771-08:00Fall Days<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF-VUmPJwqekO4981iwX7LGpihvVaSnSFgLzsn4Pd3YVFTqbAslQrL8lNkAGlePbstQzeE6DJ7Kiewz15a6CeqMtyuIQrHIG2IJ59Q2C0LLVFi_kzWmXp7pDdq96iwsJOWCDGsLZwq_zeX/s1600/20160904_131459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF-VUmPJwqekO4981iwX7LGpihvVaSnSFgLzsn4Pd3YVFTqbAslQrL8lNkAGlePbstQzeE6DJ7Kiewz15a6CeqMtyuIQrHIG2IJ59Q2C0LLVFi_kzWmXp7pDdq96iwsJOWCDGsLZwq_zeX/s320/20160904_131459.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DH, JJ and I</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
The kids are back in school now. LE and JoJo are going to the private school they started last spring, and it is still going very well. School wasn't an option for JJ this year, neither public nor private. The public school won't take any of her credits she has already received by homeschooling or from the private school. The private school wasn't a good fit. This year we are homeschooling and it is going well. It's a very good thing we did this, as her attitude is much better. She is self-motivated to get her homework done, and she seems overall happier. It also allows for her to go to her doctor's appointments without getting too far behind. She is taking US History, English 3, Algebra 1.5-2 (review and will move forward as she comes to new material), Life Skills, and for science Oceanography and Ecology this semester. We're reading Peace Child now by Don Richardson, and she's finished Stink Alley so far. She also got her learner's permit.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfpOWJYZmeR1jHxEM0nOqGad9I5pvGD0StE85aNYp5V4MYhNC2ps-3bAFNtAvxX-agpJZxf9odb6q1kAbxLP656ncwgnrZ87j02oEguVTPtoEDVVQnlLTwguAFhmIYY56bfS-Wjcya5rWc/s1600/20160826_154723.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfpOWJYZmeR1jHxEM0nOqGad9I5pvGD0StE85aNYp5V4MYhNC2ps-3bAFNtAvxX-agpJZxf9odb6q1kAbxLP656ncwgnrZ87j02oEguVTPtoEDVVQnlLTwguAFhmIYY56bfS-Wjcya5rWc/s320/20160826_154723.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CC in front of her dorm when she first got to school.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
CC is in Ohio attending Bluffton University. She was not well the first 3-4 weeks and became very home sick. She is a little healthier now and seems to be holding her own much better. I brought the 3 kids out to see her the first weekend of October and that was a real blessing to her. Sadly, I think she is still having issues with back pain.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoLoRzVZLh5PElC8T7P6sgtZn0FrVckddRJvMPiQjDs4HEMglaX-7eWzX61Nct778MOqu_u6YmcsvgzSIjK2WU4mtEimbgCJHoCPDtNMlUi5UZ1FtaCtj2jFtYKB6KAJWwbt98qijZ9oG8/s1600/20161012_093724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoLoRzVZLh5PElC8T7P6sgtZn0FrVckddRJvMPiQjDs4HEMglaX-7eWzX61Nct778MOqu_u6YmcsvgzSIjK2WU4mtEimbgCJHoCPDtNMlUi5UZ1FtaCtj2jFtYKB6KAJWwbt98qijZ9oG8/s320/20161012_093724.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First checkup after DH'S second surgery.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBeOSeHk4AhhiXXhPQH7_ASo97ZtmW1CePlAAduJW-Ghsvq2qLK9z3s8VFJnIqH-Ehz8wHTiLtz5DJxOADf4b55dPPg7s2C8tXn7AafRkw3GFVcf_qPkPbmnvZgyu4k95xMFTgScYMakX2/s1600/20161022_130236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBeOSeHk4AhhiXXhPQH7_ASo97ZtmW1CePlAAduJW-Ghsvq2qLK9z3s8VFJnIqH-Ehz8wHTiLtz5DJxOADf4b55dPPg7s2C8tXn7AafRkw3GFVcf_qPkPbmnvZgyu4k95xMFTgScYMakX2/s320/20161022_130236.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LE's Houl-loween concert with her flute ensemble at Music Suite 408. <br />
She is the second one from the right.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
A very busy me drives over 3000 miles a month going to work twice a week 50 minutes away, taking the younger kids (LE and JoJo) to school and music lessons, taking LE to doctors and PT sessions, taking JJ to doctors appointments, and also DH to his surgery, picking him up after surgery the next day (in Oak Lawn - two hours away), to PT, and follow-up appointments. My house is a cluttered mess and it makes me crazy. I spend most of my free time, very little of my time is free, cleaning the kitchen. I never seem to catch anything else up, except the laundry, although I am behind on it now.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6rcCJL7grjkw9uJtZgum8B1YwOY82FUANyxP1HyNwspvdj-JQMdK1AfbKdbSA6EKkC46KHStjH12E4_vD2AfPbDzjUioWynkNxdMYd_L4S4EUDOMhSKdJDz5g5BP9sJ5AhDLzdDuzMOtd/s1600/20161022_175635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6rcCJL7grjkw9uJtZgum8B1YwOY82FUANyxP1HyNwspvdj-JQMdK1AfbKdbSA6EKkC46KHStjH12E4_vD2AfPbDzjUioWynkNxdMYd_L4S4EUDOMhSKdJDz5g5BP9sJ5AhDLzdDuzMOtd/s320/20161022_175635.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JoJo and LE </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We moved my father-in-law to the nursing home this week. It was sad, but he is adjust well. He is a real trooper.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8OiIu8nhWbDywSJE2HdYLCady38mp2m_IAQITfgLqzoxFW-OFW2vTnWNLl1QiH-sPtHlWvUUia_5deOuPBOXZsvRi1Wz8lD0qKadIuKKFTczQJYyroezBAkOCz15OSEYVePFXfTMKgFbE/s1600/20161022_173459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8OiIu8nhWbDywSJE2HdYLCady38mp2m_IAQITfgLqzoxFW-OFW2vTnWNLl1QiH-sPtHlWvUUia_5deOuPBOXZsvRi1Wz8lD0qKadIuKKFTczQJYyroezBAkOCz15OSEYVePFXfTMKgFbE/s320/20161022_173459.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LE, me and JoJo at Tanners Orchard</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
This weekend I took the kids to Tanner's Orchard. I just took the younger two as JJ wasn't feeling well enough to go. She's been suffering a lot lately.Carol Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14378692662567620945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2135478613757790577.post-58020853379978157262016-06-26T08:26:00.000-08:002016-10-20T11:11:06.789-08:00A summer updateI have found that it's hard to blog when the kids are sick and nothing seems to be going right. I am surprised however, that it has been 6 months since I blogged.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6L47GO-TI7myfG4ZdOT_Y0-Pu0rU172OQA01f7Z3fnsmWoLG244U1RAVtmoLkkrRSPf602SZFoBywb51pCwiMnECMzsiP2B32GVWVCMdYwHTN2eH6-ngR6Pm9GFU-_CjATNzDDN5pO9lV/s1600/20160521_150148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6L47GO-TI7myfG4ZdOT_Y0-Pu0rU172OQA01f7Z3fnsmWoLG244U1RAVtmoLkkrRSPf602SZFoBywb51pCwiMnECMzsiP2B32GVWVCMdYwHTN2eH6-ngR6Pm9GFU-_CjATNzDDN5pO9lV/s400/20160521_150148.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
In February things came to a head with Elli, she admitted that she had been eating gluten because she did not like going to her new school. She had no friends and she was being bullied. When she ate gluten it made her sick, so she could say that she wanted to stay home because she was sick. I decided to change schools for both of my youngest children. This proved to be a very good move. Elli was no longer bullied. She was able to get involved with the school play and choir. She continued band at her former school until the end of February and went to Contest. She got a I in both her flute solo and her vocal solo. She started doing flute at Music Suite 408 in Peru after that. She got a very good part in the school play "Little Women" as Jo March, as the narrator. She was still sick fairly regularly, but went to school much more regularly. This month she had some more allergy testing and found out that she is allergic to corn. Taking that out of her diet, I think, has made a big difference. She isn't sick as much. It is tricky since she can't have gluten either, but I think it is worth it.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz7sZFPJTJT-34Xz83CtgT6M8x8c32N3syzCwyrUPOkeNX3XMiXDKYI_ekWc16UXtx4Acbl3lnmhX9AWpH4xtCU0T7Gb1mmQdKB0eC1RXPVk6_dOwqP_6nGgCCRQ-fec1PDmez5lY9kzU0/s1600/20160429_210026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz7sZFPJTJT-34Xz83CtgT6M8x8c32N3syzCwyrUPOkeNX3XMiXDKYI_ekWc16UXtx4Acbl3lnmhX9AWpH4xtCU0T7Gb1mmQdKB0eC1RXPVk6_dOwqP_6nGgCCRQ-fec1PDmez5lY9kzU0/s400/20160429_210026.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elli with some of the cast for Little Women. <br />She's in the teal dress.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqYhi82HZaeDbtgCXwR88nRvW9TadE3HcfuL_Lw6l7IRtdcS_eCRNVLffnWWahR5rAu3zASPhnJZRQgu4TBvbV1MB0bg3N7ZMgxyCCMtLMOTeaQHaF27Bqd0LM2u0_PHLBqaOvUiynCETF/s1600/20160504_195918.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqYhi82HZaeDbtgCXwR88nRvW9TadE3HcfuL_Lw6l7IRtdcS_eCRNVLffnWWahR5rAu3zASPhnJZRQgu4TBvbV1MB0bg3N7ZMgxyCCMtLMOTeaQHaF27Bqd0LM2u0_PHLBqaOvUiynCETF/s400/20160504_195918.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
JoJo didn't like his new school at first because it was "harder". He still pulled off all "A's". I felt that the other public schools were not challenging him. He proved this by catching up with his new class in only a few short weeks. He never had homework. He was part of the recreational soccer program in the spring. He continues to do well in violin. He loves to play board games and computer games.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8mHeqMs875-KRqytZzxUGU2Dz02U8urBfNL4XEcPawwXbFHuHJmu9V1BTUo_KcJFkALyApHWMr5SlthGmRRMro-i2r3Qp8RgmMG6p_cZENcpnN9rqQW1BXeIKdVeea3KHU-YyMBnZhO6f/s1600/20160428_204251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8mHeqMs875-KRqytZzxUGU2Dz02U8urBfNL4XEcPawwXbFHuHJmu9V1BTUo_KcJFkALyApHWMr5SlthGmRRMro-i2r3Qp8RgmMG6p_cZENcpnN9rqQW1BXeIKdVeea3KHU-YyMBnZhO6f/s400/20160428_204251.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JJ left and CC right during their spring play.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
JJ had another rough time this spring. Her seizure medicine continued to play havoc with her ability to focus in school and it became even painful to write. She became very depressed and even got suicidal. I had to pull her out of two of her classes that were just too overwhelming for her. She ended up in the hospital for 9 days. It was horrible for us to see her so low. After that I realized that it was likely her seizure medication and her neurologist agreed. We slowly weaned her off that medication. In the meantime, she was on antidepressants. The first one made her dizzy and made her stomach hurt. We switched her to another but it took her appetite away and she was very spacy and mean. Now we have her off of all three of those and I think she is doing much better. She doesn't think so, but I can tell. We are working on getting her English 2 completed this summer, and she can focus on the reading and discussions well. Hopefully we'll get some writing done this summer too.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlwBUANNBE0hmXihRvRjXpnVtqrXZgpsmVsUKVv_C2_H7Cy_vTghGL1WVDT2pLvujXQFTdgDnLKYKzwvIf5Gml8fVBqsl0yll5P6PRZimhxb03UVTyfoyCQfgVqUT7IPKJ9HF40_eZJMOo/s1600/20160527_144631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlwBUANNBE0hmXihRvRjXpnVtqrXZgpsmVsUKVv_C2_H7Cy_vTghGL1WVDT2pLvujXQFTdgDnLKYKzwvIf5Gml8fVBqsl0yll5P6PRZimhxb03UVTyfoyCQfgVqUT7IPKJ9HF40_eZJMOo/s320/20160527_144631.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
JJ continued in a special ensemble group and participated in the play at school. She did well in spite of the mean medicines!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhtGI3u9-6w8dWa1xTkiRZ74_beVBmm_L_BGqzGNLnM-IB-HREXpVLi_2vu5D0eGwfMW9DX7j9M30-tGgttQTm_ZQAHWnB66dhHEhzCkPOysKNibWjtC25nAYXGxMdzOjpqyGite-Qtk9g/s1600/20160514_185637.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhtGI3u9-6w8dWa1xTkiRZ74_beVBmm_L_BGqzGNLnM-IB-HREXpVLi_2vu5D0eGwfMW9DX7j9M30-tGgttQTm_ZQAHWnB66dhHEhzCkPOysKNibWjtC25nAYXGxMdzOjpqyGite-Qtk9g/s320/20160514_185637.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CC and friend at their formal.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
CC finished her senior year and graduated May 28! She has chosen Bluffton University and will study Writing and Art. She has earned a few nice scholarships. She has met her new roommate and is psyched about starting. She doesn't even want to wait out the summer, but she has to. She may have finally gotten a job. She has not had much luck until this week. She may have a job at Liberty Village as front desk receptionist. I think this is a good place for her.<br />
<br />
DH will have surgery tomorrow, finally, on the ankle that he injured December 26. It will be a two part surgery with a fusion of part of his ankle, followed by an ankle replacement in 8 weeks. He isn't looking forward to this, but is looking forward to being able to walk again. He still can't bear full weight on his right foot after 6 months!<br />
<br />
I think I might have something going on with my esophagus. If I eat bread or dry cookies, hard boiled eggs, etc, they seem to get caught in my esophagus. I have put it off for a year probably, but it has been getting worse. Perhaps due to my stress. Who me, stressed? Unfortunately it isn't helping me lose weight, but I guess that is a good sign too.Carol Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14378692662567620945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2135478613757790577.post-23104006315220110962016-01-28T09:51:00.001-09:002016-01-28T09:51:21.131-09:00Time drags onJoJo (9) had his surgery last week. We had to wait from 9 am to 4:30 pm in the preop area, which was very frustrating. The surgery took about 20 minutes and we were finally on our way home after 6 pm. He did well. Much better than I. From about 1:30 pm on I was boohooing. The stress of waiting and not hearing anything from anyone about when we were to start and feeling uncared for was too much for me. I'm so sick of medical crap, and that just sent me over the edge. Today someone called my husband with the pathology report and said that it was due to inflammation secondary to an insect bite. The thing is, that bite happened in July. I just don't buy it. I feel like they are feeding me lines. His head is healing well and there is very little inflammation left. The lymph node may be getting smaller too. He caught a cold.<br />
<br />
Elli (11) saw the pediatrician this week because she has missed so much school since we moved here. She has missed like 28 days now in 15 months. The doctor thinks it might be due to her allergies. She recommended that we restart her Claritin and Flonase and is sending us to ENT, to an immunologist and to the same geneticist that Pumpkin (16) is seeing to see if she has hypermobility syndrome too. The latter two referrals I requested. She missed a half day on Monday for this appointment. On Wednesday she was woken in the night 3 times with diarrhea. Yesterday she was so dizzy she could barely walk and her stomach was upset. She had to stay home from school. Today she was nauseated in the morning but went to school anyway.<br />
<br />
Pumpkin (16) had a sore throat on Monday and Tuesday with foul sinus drainage. Since yesterday her sinuses have been flowing like crazy. Poor girl. She is so stuffed up. She has been doing well GI wise, though and holding her weight until now.<br />
<br />
CiCi is hanging in there. She wrote a short children's story yesterday. It was really cute about a baby penguin who became a bowling ball. The picture was cute too.Carol Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14378692662567620945noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2135478613757790577.post-5468951806733173042016-01-21T08:04:00.001-09:002016-01-21T08:04:52.591-09:00Things are looking upTim is doing PT and is allowed to bear weight as tolerated. He is doing sit down jobs at work. He can't put much weight on it, but we feel things are moving forward.<br />
<br />
JoJo is having surgery today. I think it will be a biopsy. We're waiting for them to take him back now.<br />
<br />
Elli got sick again this week. She made it back to school yesterday, but wasn't completely on top of her game.<br />
<br />
JJ is doing great. I rarely hear a complaint out of her except that she doesn't want to do her homework.<br />
<br />
CiCi has started stepping up to help more at home. It's a real blessing. In spite of her anxiety issues, she pulled off all As except one B in history.<br />
<br />
My back is much better.Carol Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14378692662567620945noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2135478613757790577.post-39893629547267557592016-01-15T05:55:00.000-09:002016-01-15T06:35:42.272-09:00Rough winterOur family still isn't catching a break. <br />
<br />
JoJo is having surgery next week to debride the area of the tick bite. He had three weeks of antibiotics (doxycycline) without improvement on either the bite site or the lymph node. Well the rash did go away, but he has itchiness on his elbows and back now too. The blessing in this is that he's not gotten really sick or other symptoms of Luke's disease.<br />
<br />
Jae was in the hospital for 3-4 days in December for a 9cm clot in her arm. It seems to be much better but not completely resolved. She came home December 24. The blessing in this is that she was home for Christmas, finally off steroids now, and keeping her weight on!<br />
<br />
Tim, my dh, was in a 4-wheeler accident December 26. He has not been able to use his right knee or ankle since then. The blessing in this is seeing how his boss and co-workers are helping us out. Also he's always home to help supervise the kids.<br />
<br />
CiCi wrecked my van 4 days ago. Now my ugly van is even uglier. I tried to talk my Dhaka into getting rid of it, but it is still driveable so no can do. The blessing: CiCi and Jae came out with minimal scratches.<br />
<br />
4 days ago I strained my back. I didn't hurt much the first day, but having lots of discomfort now. We're blessed with a freezer full of meat that I was picking up when this happened. Tim got 3 deer this year! Also, I'm thankful that my schedule had two days off work for me to rest.<br />
<br />
Elli keeps getting sick. Strep throat, abdominal pains, headaches, dizziness... She's missed 10 days of school already. We've got an appointment to try and figure this out. The blessing is that I have a lovely daughter and we've had some good conversations lately, and she's currently back in school.<br />
<br />
Hopefully we'll be out of this valley soon, but we're thankful to have our heavenly Father taking care of us along the way.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHICetccfhlTERP7JrnObTVznVun7gWD7qo933N7h0u23Fl7Ddgfdw5ffs5r8K7-sJaM4fq3Fv9EjWRh_y-6wiR7bNRGH7C3x2hU6U0GibXw0vWVOnQW34OWxWSJ7BUCk4fQxOymLl2HSY/s1600/IMG_5813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHICetccfhlTERP7JrnObTVznVun7gWD7qo933N7h0u23Fl7Ddgfdw5ffs5r8K7-sJaM4fq3Fv9EjWRh_y-6wiR7bNRGH7C3x2hU6U0GibXw0vWVOnQW34OWxWSJ7BUCk4fQxOymLl2HSY/s320/IMG_5813.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The van after the accident.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdnyQY5Nf2l69NzISBz36CJpzE-idVQ1rXTy5AMHgu7tzyvffCiDARQtudQZbBEbLpfkxTrFr49Z6FqMVoiMg6V5YBC40pUyTtMPuooe1igxmpwwAc_4De-SePJalopUuEBcTpcOjxskHb/s1600/IMG_20160110_191913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdnyQY5Nf2l69NzISBz36CJpzE-idVQ1rXTy5AMHgu7tzyvffCiDARQtudQZbBEbLpfkxTrFr49Z6FqMVoiMg6V5YBC40pUyTtMPuooe1igxmpwwAc_4De-SePJalopUuEBcTpcOjxskHb/s320/IMG_20160110_191913.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tim's ankle a week after the accident.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />Carol Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14378692662567620945noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2135478613757790577.post-19688885710205537632015-12-15T18:23:00.002-09:002015-12-16T18:51:53.082-09:00Crap! Something else to worry about!Starting last summer ds (9) had a tick bite. He pulled it off himself and told me about it a few days later. It was on his scalp. Within a short period of time I found an enlarged lymph node on the same side of his head behind his ear. I took him to the doctor, who did a strep screen (negative) and she said that it was nothing to worry about. I waited until October and it was not getting better. The bite area was still sore and slightly raised and the lymph node was still big. I took him back to the doctor and she did a few blood tests and sent us to see a surgeon. Last month I took him to the surgeon and he put Josiah on Bactrim Suspension for 10 days, which we finished a couple of days ago. It did nothing. The lymph node didn't change. However, now for the first time, I see a red rash around the bite site, and it seems maybe he is losing some hair there. Crap! Why can't things be easily figured out in my kids and be treated normally without issues or just go away like normal kids' problems do!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPmhnw71yp8WiueqTU2-QidgVknXQnHPkRbl6eqlVRhZuJRLOghUHs6JH_PL3AMaES187f8izMxkSQzm_K-00em9c_FUUYSspV42FNmp2S0ctymZWjRGN73T2tKgPJo8tJv_aIjHfi6YrO/s1600/IMG_20150701_152100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPmhnw71yp8WiueqTU2-QidgVknXQnHPkRbl6eqlVRhZuJRLOghUHs6JH_PL3AMaES187f8izMxkSQzm_K-00em9c_FUUYSspV42FNmp2S0ctymZWjRGN73T2tKgPJo8tJv_aIjHfi6YrO/s320/IMG_20150701_152100.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was taken in August. I measured it today, and it is unchanged.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjycJaYwfQB21FggAEMA2nq3qCEexPtr5Sr4RFCun6XAUTCg-cVOe_isIIcXWwMxr9OoDTVd987ChcBuofYdSkrL-LQkMXdNoaTwzRXMOxMMcHzOEV8a-vZo-y83fBh19iph81-hOocPFcF/s1600/DSCN1620.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjycJaYwfQB21FggAEMA2nq3qCEexPtr5Sr4RFCun6XAUTCg-cVOe_isIIcXWwMxr9OoDTVd987ChcBuofYdSkrL-LQkMXdNoaTwzRXMOxMMcHzOEV8a-vZo-y83fBh19iph81-hOocPFcF/s320/DSCN1620.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Currently I've called the doctor's office again to see what she wants me to do. Pretty soon they will all know me by first name!!! Carol Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14378692662567620945noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2135478613757790577.post-42305703677090528792015-12-14T08:55:00.000-09:002015-12-14T08:55:01.342-09:00Birthday, Thanksgiving and Medical StuffHappy Thanksgiving and Happy Hannukah! Today is day five our our
Messiah's eight days of remembering what God did when he provided the
miracle of the oil for the lamp in the temple. Our family enjoys
lighting the candles. Each night we remember that Yeshua/Jesus is the
light of the world. Each night we add one more candle. We light them
while eating a meal together as a family. I love having our meals
together and focusing on God and on each other. This year we also added
a tradition of each of us taking one night to gift each other with a
small gift. Since there are six of us in the family, six of the eight
days was covered. Our kids made rubber band bracelets, pictures,
bookmarks, and other small toys for all of their siblings and parents.
This will replace our "stocking" tradition from Christmas. They have
the choice whether they want to give each other gifts on Christmas as
well. We are not putting up a Christmas tree this year, as we often
have not over the past 7-8 years. I do enjoy a Christmas tree, but our
house is not big enough, and it often changes the mood of the holiday to
a "presents" focus, so I don't really mind. We do give a couple gifts
to each child on Christmas, and they also open gifts from their
grandparents and aunts and uncles. We just enjoy Hannukah a little more
and a little longer.<br />
<br />
Since my last post, dd2 was in
the hospital for 5 days and recovered quite nicely. Currently she is
weaning off of prednisone and is starting to get some of her previous
symptoms back. She had one day of being pain-free in her abdomen, but
now that has returned as well. Since last night she got a virus that
her dd3 has been fighting so that is muddying the water with more joint
pain, fever and sore throat. If her symptoms return, she will have to go
on the stronger Crohn's med.<br />
<br />
This week, dd2 saw the
rheumatologist. He feels she has hypermobility syndrome. Reading about
this syndrome makes a lot of her symptoms make sense. It can be caused
by a genetic defect that I think may run in our family called
Ehler-Danlos Syndrome. I see features in all three of our girls. This
has made me start looking into dd1's symptoms and now I have some
suspicion that she may have something like dysautonomia. It is a
symptom of Ehler-Danlos too.<br />
<br />
Ds turned 9 last month on
the 10th. We took a couple of his buddies to a water park at a YMCA
after church. They had a good time.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn0f6N5pg1lSNnEmgK2-zdGBQsvGfgoGRf3sRplPV_U4DK7dMMFqCgABdofpGh6sDpry-nXVpO1kKYnjCHAxictympB5ySk8O_CrSlZmERCA80mBLR0smWi8156_x-JRB2lPrJWeXGtsBk/s1600/DSCN1561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn0f6N5pg1lSNnEmgK2-zdGBQsvGfgoGRf3sRplPV_U4DK7dMMFqCgABdofpGh6sDpry-nXVpO1kKYnjCHAxictympB5ySk8O_CrSlZmERCA80mBLR0smWi8156_x-JRB2lPrJWeXGtsBk/s320/DSCN1561.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhawN3bsfRA5-tr3nZSFLXZOTSoKVxEJR6ZFqzsWxU0Cqa2KIokUBKNnIqF6SZr0AkvIv6Ss0K7KMjDDABzT_9jb3nKg9rRVbXllURfWoz9DUM3a-v032M4iV1bNXHP4XRfeDrMxni62kjD/s1600/DSCN1581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhawN3bsfRA5-tr3nZSFLXZOTSoKVxEJR6ZFqzsWxU0Cqa2KIokUBKNnIqF6SZr0AkvIv6Ss0K7KMjDDABzT_9jb3nKg9rRVbXllURfWoz9DUM3a-v032M4iV1bNXHP4XRfeDrMxni62kjD/s320/DSCN1581.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Josiah is in the middle of both pics. We went for pizza afterwards.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Carol Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14378692662567620945noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2135478613757790577.post-68150680445275366912015-11-08T08:29:00.003-09:002015-11-08T08:34:28.952-09:00Daybook Entry<br />
http://thesimplewoman.blogspot.com<br />
<br />
For Today... November 8, 2015<br />
<br />
Outside my window... the sun is shining, the air is cool. I'm loving our beautiful fall.<br />
<br />
I am thinking... if something doesn't work soon in improving my daughter's health, I am gonna go crazy.<br />
<br />
I am thankful... for the good weather, good kids and good friends.<br />
<br />
In the kitchen... yummy pumpkin chocolate chip muffins.<br />
<br />
I am wearing... jammies.<br />
<br />
I am creating... nothing.<br />
<br />
I am wondering... how we will ever get Pumpkin better.<br />
<br />
I am reading... The School for Good and Evil and listening to Gone with the Wind on audiobook.<br />
<br />
I am hoping... the GI docs will help us move on to a medication that works better for my daughter's Crohn's disease.<br />
<br />
I am looking forward to... heaven.<br />
<br />
Around the house... my two girls are sick, and I have no motivation to clean or cook. I'm overwhelmed with Pumpkin's health issues.<br />
<br />
One of my favorite things... a beautiful, crisp, lazy fall day.<br />
<br />
Highlights from this past week... I'm working two days a week now at Ready Care in Sterling. Little Buddy had a basketball game yesterday morning, and did a fabulous job playing in a small ensemble in the afternoon - A Theme from Jurassic Park.<br />
<br />
A few plans for the next week... playing things one day at a time, hoping Bunnies doesn't get too sick. I'm not sure I can handle any more health issues.Carol Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14378692662567620945noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2135478613757790577.post-49031659158544627392015-08-28T05:54:00.002-08:002015-08-29T12:06:12.027-08:00Summer Happenings and New School YearTime for an update. Sorry I left you all on such a downer post.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijSfohH9NdC-x4W82-7jom567_EXuWSEN9Oue48KBjiWGqTrfOArlySLc2g3Yq8PCbHIQGefq5oFouR-cL_jU-AEFPItVYsCEMepsCek42U0GuNJV-VTILMEln4Da4_wY0gYhKA8VciDTA/s1600/DSC_0004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijSfohH9NdC-x4W82-7jom567_EXuWSEN9Oue48KBjiWGqTrfOArlySLc2g3Yq8PCbHIQGefq5oFouR-cL_jU-AEFPItVYsCEMepsCek42U0GuNJV-VTILMEln4Da4_wY0gYhKA8VciDTA/s400/DSC_0004.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jaedyn, Josiah, Ciara and Eliana</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We had a fairly good summer. Once we got past a few weeks of mugginess, the weather was great.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9paEoFN8CiSdBfiVzqWQYS90uDJF79_CjkGYlq0ZmYsMp4SHZynRtKoHH_Ckt6pPaKL6oKO5W7n32pBasUcSFQVmWszSNocWd7g37crrpXg6fSOjEIlu4hyphenhyphen1uGj4vmSzpw5wNS6vVSWqe/s1600/IMG_20150812_152808.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9paEoFN8CiSdBfiVzqWQYS90uDJF79_CjkGYlq0ZmYsMp4SHZynRtKoHH_Ckt6pPaKL6oKO5W7n32pBasUcSFQVmWszSNocWd7g37crrpXg6fSOjEIlu4hyphenhyphen1uGj4vmSzpw5wNS6vVSWqe/s320/IMG_20150812_152808.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
I have a garden that isn't the best, but it has been fun and I'm learning. It sat fallow for the past couple years before we moved here. Cucumbers, carrots, melons have done well. Most of my tomatoes didn't do well. A few cherry tomatoes only. One green pepper plant survived. On my deck I have (or had) spinach, lettuce, oregano, basil, two cherry tomato plants, which all did well. I used bags of garden soil laying on sides with squares cut out for the plants to grow. I've just replanted hoping for a fall crop. In the garden I just planted a bunch of beets, broccoli and lettuce. I have some potato starters up here on the deck but fear I started too late... Lastly, snow peas did well in the flower garden, that is, until the bunnies found them. :(. I worked as camp "nurse" a couple of weeks too.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx8cy4eH6DdMXrDamRcMI7iIcvOJl4OQIlKYCBM94iJ8uVtSku-VJDWJrFUtA7K8sWJMhw3m4Cml3nsP6S4Y-GP6MUaHJ-5U32JCoLlTlj8Uzh98Gxn0wdCbc_o1W0HIKNU0HNZUXqCdFd/s1600/DSC_0085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx8cy4eH6DdMXrDamRcMI7iIcvOJl4OQIlKYCBM94iJ8uVtSku-VJDWJrFUtA7K8sWJMhw3m4Cml3nsP6S4Y-GP6MUaHJ-5U32JCoLlTlj8Uzh98Gxn0wdCbc_o1W0HIKNU0HNZUXqCdFd/s320/DSC_0085.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: sans-serif;">Elli in orange with her flute at the spring concert</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Elli went to two camps here at Menno Haven, participated in the summer band program, and took swimming lessons. She loves the water and swam for hours here at the pool. Elli's flute has improved a lot. Her attitude towards schoolwork and being helpful around the house has really improved also. Now that she has started sixth grade, I can see a big difference in how she comes home and gets started with her schoolwork and music practice. It really delights me. This year she gets to do choir, and is hoping to be asked to be part of an early morning ensemble, but I'm not sure if she's quite ready for that yet. We'll see.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilHDpBeJG3HDJuKEa0GMntrcW0yQ8msMbjCxMcgwqDeZ3GCbLHofqH294unfSPM6dT7Mnwjk6XdKcvttH0uF8Se6iFbiQBOfKiOyW81LYLVd-9Km64VgY3SOiu-Pnm_AkvzNcbbNCjxcsg/s1600/IMG_20150822_100449.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilHDpBeJG3HDJuKEa0GMntrcW0yQ8msMbjCxMcgwqDeZ3GCbLHofqH294unfSPM6dT7Mnwjk6XdKcvttH0uF8Se6iFbiQBOfKiOyW81LYLVd-9Km64VgY3SOiu-Pnm_AkvzNcbbNCjxcsg/s320/IMG_20150822_100449.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Josiah performed at the Maud Powell Arts Festival this month.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
: </div>
Josiah went to one camp here as he is only 8. He helped with the garden and both younger children participated in a biweekly junior master gardener program. He took swimming lessons and has progressed to jumping off the diving board and swimming in the deep end.<br />
He has continued with his violin through the summer and especially enjoyed doing group lessons.<br />
<br />
Jaedyn had a rocky summer. She started out working the first 5-6 weeks in the kitchen at camp. However, the doctors kept asking for her to get a bunch of tests done and she had so many appointments, then the work load and heat were tearing up her guts. To top it all off, her left leg started swelling up. Ultimately, we discovered that she has primary lymphedema. Now she has to wear a hip high compression stocking every day for the rest of her life. She never seems to get a break. Her boss told her to take a week off when her leg got bad, but then never let her return. Later in the summer, she started doing housekeeping with another lady at the camp, and that seemed a much better fit. She earned enough to buy herself a laptop computer. In August we took her to Wisconsin for Camp Oasis. She loved it. Unfortunately, she started having night seizures again and had to come home a day early. This was a real blow after everything else that happened this summer.<br />
<br />
Jaedyn and Ciara are finishing their first week back to school. Both teen girls decided to not go to public school and are happily engaged at their former private school. I'm really happy about this.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY4RTknHM7-SXKIRoFgZ7fPH-HT8Nv1CJhD5wz2DPk-JnzGwd0_eBVDiS4bqQgeelojn_ArkoBRJVFr6u41zmuioOTvVd3-HYE5PBN4TsPQE0eqbEr517k93h_k6l-Zh9lfOpluMzyGdqX/s1600/DSC_0104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY4RTknHM7-SXKIRoFgZ7fPH-HT8Nv1CJhD5wz2DPk-JnzGwd0_eBVDiS4bqQgeelojn_ArkoBRJVFr6u41zmuioOTvVd3-HYE5PBN4TsPQE0eqbEr517k93h_k6l-Zh9lfOpluMzyGdqX/s320/DSC_0104.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ciara on left and Jaedyn in yellow at their spring banquet for school. Pictured here with friends Elisabeth Porter and Ivy Brown.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Ciara worked doing housekeeping and gardening with a friend this summer. She has started medicine for her anxiety and went to counseling all summer. She is in a much better place now emotionally, and was actually excited about starting school as a senior this year. We're doing college shopping now. She has another ACT in October, and we'll go to Kansas to visit Bethel College in October too. Oh, and we put in the requisite 50+ hours of driving so she will soon get her driver's license!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio2Au4ZRykhQmdxRuhJT7UNdZ-bwcaT7ajxFqh58Ob7i6gW2V4obA-hubZGpc_4kKGjzYLb5LhnIFKCrkyzy5rhx7_l2-5X7IINbXN9jOT6JdxMrrn-q-rKnNdhngbohc2RvtP42Pb_JvW/s1600/DSCN1317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio2Au4ZRykhQmdxRuhJT7UNdZ-bwcaT7ajxFqh58Ob7i6gW2V4obA-hubZGpc_4kKGjzYLb5LhnIFKCrkyzy5rhx7_l2-5X7IINbXN9jOT6JdxMrrn-q-rKnNdhngbohc2RvtP42Pb_JvW/s320/DSCN1317.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the St Louis Zoo in the heat in July</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Tim has worked at Camp Menno Haven for a full year now. The summer was especially challenging for him as he doesn't like to act the role of boss or to have to confront negative behavior. He had two full time summer staff this year, but he had to let one go. He is pretty tired now and is happy for a break in the schedule. I think he'll be glad when he can shut down the pool after labor day. It is a lot of work.<br />
<br />Carol Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14378692662567620945noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2135478613757790577.post-35599601769622811802015-03-30T07:35:00.001-08:002015-03-30T07:35:49.552-08:00Health matters, I suppose.It's time for my weekly Daybook Entry, but I suppose I'm not really in the mood. I'm frustrated.<br />
<br />
This past week we officially ended our whole 30 strict plan. On Tuesday we reintroduced legumes with peanut butter and with beans in the chili. One daughter and I had diarrhea. Not sure if it was related. On Friday we reintroduced gluten-free flour. This really sent me for a loop. I felt in a fog and drunk most of the day and had to sleep it off. I was surprised. Sunday I slept a good portion of the day as well - exhausted. I seem to only get good days every other day... I should be feeling great. <br />
<br />
Overall I've lost 22 lbs and my clothes fit well again. Some of my jeans are too big. If I stay on plan, my thinking is clear, when I'm not tired. Taking Lifelong Vitality supplements from DoTerra really help with my clear thinking and energy, but I'm almost out. I won't have more until next week 😞. It is frustrating to feel like I have to stay on this strict diet or feel poorly. I guess I should be grateful that I can feel better by eating on plan, but I really am tired of having to do so much cooking! I want my lifestyle to be more convenient - to not have to plan every meal ahead of time! <br />
<br />
In spite of all this hard work, Jaedyn has not gained any more weight and is still sick frequently - daily. Eliana is sick once a week too. This stresses me out - and perhaps that is part of me being exhausted and foggy-brained.<br />
<br />
Regarding Jaedyn, she had her colonoscopy last week. She sees her GI doc for follow-up on Thursday. She hasn't gained weight - lost two pounds. She sees a new pediatrician next week. I could not put her in with the doc who has 30-40 patients a day. He did a very weak well-child exam on Josiah last week. No way! Problem is, I will have to take her to Peoria to get in with a pediatrician! Such is my life. No wonder I can't see myself going back to work!<br />
<br />
I still haven't figured out what to do about school for her. I guess we just try the public high school. I wish life was easier, fair and encouraging ðŸ˜.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTyM40-2JQt3aGNen-btg9go_wZg01xcNminubl4UFMP1JSKHkxS0ivJ49yQcPUc5S03Lc4h4SgyCReu5ke_Cc7QiBGxBPgJp28040WlxAzLgyIOy9y-cr7xAzH-3ZIzKPmHG4pUY5aGve/s1600/IMG_20150328_211127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTyM40-2JQt3aGNen-btg9go_wZg01xcNminubl4UFMP1JSKHkxS0ivJ49yQcPUc5S03Lc4h4SgyCReu5ke_Cc7QiBGxBPgJp28040WlxAzLgyIOy9y-cr7xAzH-3ZIzKPmHG4pUY5aGve/s1600/IMG_20150328_211127.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbIaJMnk_BOhs0Zz-06QBZV9efG654R2QLj4n4h2wYHocvbpC2b3Ld_EvazsUov0y3W6kQdnMKeYmScHbAk4EhfqOrUxcm6IILhZ-MWz_O1V4qoR4FuRRXlX4DIcq4x111t8BBuNUWp__0/s1600/IMG_20150328_211049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbIaJMnk_BOhs0Zz-06QBZV9efG654R2QLj4n4h2wYHocvbpC2b3Ld_EvazsUov0y3W6kQdnMKeYmScHbAk4EhfqOrUxcm6IILhZ-MWz_O1V4qoR4FuRRXlX4DIcq4x111t8BBuNUWp__0/s1600/IMG_20150328_211049.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRVIQwwwjTJpZLy8ylo1tvEPNqBpH2MR9WyAQImacUHAqquiQe04weyNfetfrhFhaVtnyzRGCNtT1hWV-movP1-u8pXMcY224quXi_G8e0m2MdcwUy2l8qRiufwthgmuvETvnMx7H3gIfP/s1600/IMG_20150328_211251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRVIQwwwjTJpZLy8ylo1tvEPNqBpH2MR9WyAQImacUHAqquiQe04weyNfetfrhFhaVtnyzRGCNtT1hWV-movP1-u8pXMcY224quXi_G8e0m2MdcwUy2l8qRiufwthgmuvETvnMx7H3gIfP/s1600/IMG_20150328_211251.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhACMaF5swPhEbGF0Dp1jG1eCtkhaiZGk3HcpZsr7k2nX5lSJEptv_EuMy3v_32axlX71El5UctyC6qx7EdEDu3MVj8T6aXzH2XTfkuU3JS1FKSvpelvkvA6R0tZvbvjEnI3o83bTaV52NH/s1600/IMG_20150328_211007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhACMaF5swPhEbGF0Dp1jG1eCtkhaiZGk3HcpZsr7k2nX5lSJEptv_EuMy3v_32axlX71El5UctyC6qx7EdEDu3MVj8T6aXzH2XTfkuU3JS1FKSvpelvkvA6R0tZvbvjEnI3o83bTaV52NH/s1600/IMG_20150328_211007.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmM7lnR-nXNB6HU25Xci2BvrXdIpBzMdwJD66AnW_aOC_9NcqWlsFZhKJwB38t3Nwn2FYw-fnLgHuxyLfoWXXlPgsvDEmjq426CrinewyQVMWhfpAtxsNWZG5DW5WH9SNZJZNhuGn_P3jz/s1600/IMG_20150328_211002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmM7lnR-nXNB6HU25Xci2BvrXdIpBzMdwJD66AnW_aOC_9NcqWlsFZhKJwB38t3Nwn2FYw-fnLgHuxyLfoWXXlPgsvDEmjq426CrinewyQVMWhfpAtxsNWZG5DW5WH9SNZJZNhuGn_P3jz/s1600/IMG_20150328_211002.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkAGelplrzTevae3awLUV8LxC5zPmztMBc0Py6ip-HHov1siHQseqIOMC8AxltnxhfoXH_Rqpo656QVZNtSBjivhQjXVNuRufK9gb0jfcnY0Zl-h2lQI4OT7zt3oEpD84y3Uc0zKng8ahR/s1600/IMG_20150318_203507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkAGelplrzTevae3awLUV8LxC5zPmztMBc0Py6ip-HHov1siHQseqIOMC8AxltnxhfoXH_Rqpo656QVZNtSBjivhQjXVNuRufK9gb0jfcnY0Zl-h2lQI4OT7zt3oEpD84y3Uc0zKng8ahR/s1600/IMG_20150318_203507.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmo6JaOZU9JzchIOo9QRRaqrqV2qIAjrBiNbuPi73fpAYqAQlJ9PBJ1K1c7B96ruiGWLJgUzNDyh2bv52ebZ3D140lIjs4atyAlptiOZf3xwgfMClA9rVtJ0nFOzlcIXLRSHJrlFhE_bJ/s1600/IMG_20150318_203712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmo6JaOZU9JzchIOo9QRRaqrqV2qIAjrBiNbuPi73fpAYqAQlJ9PBJ1K1c7B96ruiGWLJgUzNDyh2bv52ebZ3D140lIjs4atyAlptiOZf3xwgfMClA9rVtJ0nFOzlcIXLRSHJrlFhE_bJ/s1600/IMG_20150318_203712.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDDbYSPMovL4iBxbNpgMcyqfyyoO4PizuKiYINX9w5ZvmkoV8RQvP_LVY-KbtLkHLS-2vx88qOvg_rWVrU5Akj7uSDvhfL5WDq0HtUdlfObIodwTVQKRlkxE1Rb9IBkAA7ho7wre-ecZTD/s1600/IMG_20150318_203347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDDbYSPMovL4iBxbNpgMcyqfyyoO4PizuKiYINX9w5ZvmkoV8RQvP_LVY-KbtLkHLS-2vx88qOvg_rWVrU5Akj7uSDvhfL5WDq0HtUdlfObIodwTVQKRlkxE1Rb9IBkAA7ho7wre-ecZTD/s1600/IMG_20150318_203347.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6R_o5SDDoVacg9SXIq9o0XAAOFzgqNS0VLwA2mLksR91x3dPVAGUaFUXs-XQwSXQV3qT4jUDJZWrvLTVpoZcsbrIGczorE3I9FebIPohezvLr11lG6sAbGH-JUheB_5GS1b4T2Hofx6fe/s1600/IMG_20150318_202912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6R_o5SDDoVacg9SXIq9o0XAAOFzgqNS0VLwA2mLksR91x3dPVAGUaFUXs-XQwSXQV3qT4jUDJZWrvLTVpoZcsbrIGczorE3I9FebIPohezvLr11lG6sAbGH-JUheB_5GS1b4T2Hofx6fe/s1600/IMG_20150318_202912.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP0i1w2xSq2eUEG1x16MFC2yg8FfjQRfMhkJb_xfklTPTm5x1RNNu-B_MZeLkJa5FhspeprdxYIjh-80z2Fdj0CSve3iyvsT93NiTv7jPZURgNQfo2-o0ITMOpBmWkdgAjKxMhjm8-30xI/s1600/IMG_20150326_180053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP0i1w2xSq2eUEG1x16MFC2yg8FfjQRfMhkJb_xfklTPTm5x1RNNu-B_MZeLkJa5FhspeprdxYIjh-80z2Fdj0CSve3iyvsT93NiTv7jPZURgNQfo2-o0ITMOpBmWkdgAjKxMhjm8-30xI/s1600/IMG_20150326_180053.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Carol Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14378692662567620945noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2135478613757790577.post-69470034697187742972015-03-21T09:09:00.001-08:002015-03-21T09:09:52.594-08:00Daybook Entry<a href="http://thesimplewoman.blogspot.com/">http://thesimplewoman.blogspot.com</a><br />
<br />
For Today... March 21, 2015<br />
<br />
Outside my window... the sun is shining, the air is warm, the frogs and birds are chirping. Yesterday I saw a couple of robins! I put up some hummingbird feeders, but I'm probably a couple weeks early, at least... Wishful thinking!<br />
<br />
I am thinking... we enrolled the girls into the public high school for the fall. It was a real blow to all of us that they won't take any of the private schooling credits that they did this year and they will be set back a year. It is crazy that they have to repeat classes that they got As in, but overall I think it will be a good move. My oldest daughter would have graduated next year, but she really wants a public high school experience more than she wants to be done with high school. I don't think she is quite ready to face real life in a year anyway, so this is a good move for her. My second daughter already got an extra year when she was five because she wasn't ready to start school yet, so this was way disappointing for her. I think it will be good for her to have the extra resources a public high school can offer, but I'm sad for her that her hard earned As and Bs this year won't mean anything and that she will turn 20 just before she graduates. I am still deliberating this for her.<br />
<br />
I am thankful... for the nice weather and for a week without any major illness in the family. Even my in-laws had a good week health wise.<br />
<br />
In the kitchen... we made special crepes this morning with apple compote and blueberry compote, almond butter and bananas. Yummy! Last night we welcomed in the Sabbath with a fancy table, meatballs and veggies.<br />
<br />
I am wearing... blue jeans and a light green family reunion t-shirt.<br />
<br />
I am creating... a bird-attractive area around my back deck and in my front yard. I put up new feeders this week and bird baths in the front and back.<br />
<br />
I am wondering... how to fix my daughter's dress for her play next week. The back doesn't close and so I will have to sew in some material so that her back doesn't show.<br />
<br />
I am reading... I finished <em>Skellag</em> and started<em> Brisinger</em> on audiobook.<br />
<br />
I am hoping... the GI docs will help us move on quickly to a medication that works better for my daughter's Crohn's disease. She had scopes done this week on Wednesday. Her next appointment is April 2.<br />
<br />
I am looking forward to... more green things springing up, seeing my girls perform in their plays, riding bikes with my kiddos.<br />
<br />
Around the house... my 10 year old daughter is reading on my bed, preparing for a book report about Pocahontas. My son, 8 years, is dealing up Skip-Bo for us to play when I am done. My 15 year old daughter is knitting in her room. My 16 year old daughter is in her room doing something with writing or drawing, I imagine. My husband is cleaning the garage :).<br />
<br />
One of my favorite things... a clean house on Saturday and nice weather to bicycle with!<br />
<br />
Highlights from this past week... We took 10 yo daughter to a new doctor to establish care on Monday. On Tuesday I helped my 15 year old do a clean out for her scopes on Wednesday. On Thursday I went grocery shopping. On Friday I got to stay home and clean house, then take my son to the eye doctor for a school mandated checkup. We found that he couldn't see certain shades of green and that he has a mild astigmatism, but he doesn't need any glasses.<br />
<br />
A few plans for the next week... Church on Sunday, prepare for Passover and week of unleavened bread next week, appointment for our son on Thursday at above-mentioned doctor. Hopefully I can get the taxes done!<br />
<br />
Carol Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14378692662567620945noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2135478613757790577.post-80721980927592645122015-03-12T06:57:00.001-08:002015-03-12T18:04:32.996-08:00My life perspective today<div class="post-header">
<div class="post-header-line-1">
</div>
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1528407621914951933" itemprop="description articleBody">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Rqv_K2blN1N3GoQH9ZiY_PNqy8q1OjdqEfkzFDi-Kn9Te57cWVySMni1yoJUkKan92H7eSwvvyoWHw2Jk63f372hDmmVDjf6tclimho6ywqdJfpXXEZMH5CEphlgazCSRR-WB0Gonr8S/s1600/simple-woman-daybook-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Rqv_K2blN1N3GoQH9ZiY_PNqy8q1OjdqEfkzFDi-Kn9Te57cWVySMni1yoJUkKan92H7eSwvvyoWHw2Jk63f372hDmmVDjf6tclimho6ywqdJfpXXEZMH5CEphlgazCSRR-WB0Gonr8S/s1600/simple-woman-daybook-large.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #666666; font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Vollkorn;"><span style="color: white; line-height: 25.2px;">http://thesimplewoman.blogspot.com/</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2px;">FOR TODAY... March 12, 2015</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: white;"><strong>Outside my window...</strong> the sun is shining and the snow is almost gone! It will be in the upper 50's today - the warmest it's been this year. Monday is supposed to get up to 68!</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2px; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: white;"><strong>I am thinking...</strong> about my daughter's struggle with school and her feelings of inadequacy.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2px; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: white;"><strong>I am thankful...</strong> for my new computer!</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2px; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: white;"><strong>In the kitchen...</strong> I've come into a rhythm. I've been doing a Whole30 program with the entire family and we are halfway there! It is going much better than I had anticipated.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2px; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: white;"><strong>I am wearing...</strong> jeans and a long-sleeved brown and orange sweater.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2px; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: white;"><strong>I am creating...</strong> organization out of chaos, a healthy family, self-esteem in my teens.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2px; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: white;"><strong>I am wondering...</strong> whether the changes we are anticipating for my daughter's medical regimen will make a big difference in her life.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2px; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: white;"><strong>I am reading...</strong> SkellIg by David Almond. A very good story.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2px; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: white;"><strong>I am hoping...</strong> Princeton High School will have a good school option for both of my girls next fall and will take their credits from previous school work done.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2px; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: white;"><strong>I am looking forward to...</strong> being done with my PA license renewal and being done with my taxes!</span></div>
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span>
<div style="font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: white;"><br /><strong>Around the house...</strong> I moved the rats into Joe and Elly's bedroom. I got tired of smelling their cage in our small living room. This seems to be a better arrangement.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2px; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: white;"><strong>One of my favorite things...</strong> green things growing where there has been cold, dark winter for so long!</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2px; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: white;"><strong>Highlights from this past week...</strong> We got my father-in-law home now to the new apartment. My mother-in-law has been sick with a stomach bug, but my father-in-law seems to be doing very well. My two youngest were both in school all week, although my youngest daughter still has cold symptoms and can't hear for the pressure in her ears!</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2px; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2px; text-align: left;">
<strong><span style="color: white;">A peek into my day:</span></strong></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGnZN9VIjvVxIyj0QrGxR56hByoljljy5-Zi1HyaUoPPHsaqM23y3M03HmfV7jX2DRRUQKBgZAwCZZWddPpaOS5vCr4ie1U5mqgcErchl_2vHj1yx2Yo75ZUtL4h-JSNPilT8_oJYILSt0/s1600/DSC_0008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGnZN9VIjvVxIyj0QrGxR56hByoljljy5-Zi1HyaUoPPHsaqM23y3M03HmfV7jX2DRRUQKBgZAwCZZWddPpaOS5vCr4ie1U5mqgcErchl_2vHj1yx2Yo75ZUtL4h-JSNPilT8_oJYILSt0/s1600/DSC_0008.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From my back deck. Much of the snow has gone and a little green is starting to show!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCz6a-NznlX5jZ8bfuVQ_T83DgT2IJpCEAmcK56ynnh6qwecRZAdHpAJsslNNYl-fXf_RXN3419Kp6-le7NqM_NLYLyfeXR3i0HQEH1Q2d0AUanRUBtI_QBUGvJZ5WayS4CmrsaKO4YZsB/s1600/DSC_0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCz6a-NznlX5jZ8bfuVQ_T83DgT2IJpCEAmcK56ynnh6qwecRZAdHpAJsslNNYl-fXf_RXN3419Kp6-le7NqM_NLYLyfeXR3i0HQEH1Q2d0AUanRUBtI_QBUGvJZ5WayS4CmrsaKO4YZsB/s1600/DSC_0001.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My oldest daughter loves to draw using her Samsung Galaxy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6BhlQ4lDAQcY2tOYEPJwjkrioyktndqxMZS7oQNtUSS82HucwUOL1RWRuIampOPKJYy9ML13Q_bPvHyhivuEdeDoFZF4Xrr15-3PQ4HhfS8CvV5I3QmgXCd2eHXyS7pGRL0-XzsMdwZrg/s1600/DSC_0007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6BhlQ4lDAQcY2tOYEPJwjkrioyktndqxMZS7oQNtUSS82HucwUOL1RWRuIampOPKJYy9ML13Q_bPvHyhivuEdeDoFZF4Xrr15-3PQ4HhfS8CvV5I3QmgXCd2eHXyS7pGRL0-XzsMdwZrg/s1600/DSC_0007.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sun is shining into my kitchen and making everything cheery!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Carol Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14378692662567620945noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2135478613757790577.post-14785138180602447442015-03-06T09:12:00.001-09:002015-03-06T09:12:43.570-09:00A peek into my day...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQo5lsVFWQDE5wM4fTZV_TR0GlFlusKbNrSBgmxrNrrr_eotHZbIy1udkxjQ_OOl2VUs7W2ud2VriaOmOdULxYXkb7vc7UkYij-X8mY941EOFUM-zP4GD_JvhMCEP1aN7aFR3jJC4PSHae/s1600/DSCN1218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQo5lsVFWQDE5wM4fTZV_TR0GlFlusKbNrSBgmxrNrrr_eotHZbIy1udkxjQ_OOl2VUs7W2ud2VriaOmOdULxYXkb7vc7UkYij-X8mY941EOFUM-zP4GD_JvhMCEP1aN7aFR3jJC4PSHae/s1600/DSCN1218.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Seeing... the beautiful sun shining in the windows!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjksIMMNV1o5JnddidfFSuzkkkPCjE0CQjEmvWZuWZOf0vAulO6de2O3FMz7moucNWw4Vxz3Z47u3QBIqxYf1MrbVS8bNApgnHh4lNA4MyHONhYKQCvVRMF34vIVYb0d6nKrjaFeNbFYLF9/s1600/DSCN1216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjksIMMNV1o5JnddidfFSuzkkkPCjE0CQjEmvWZuWZOf0vAulO6de2O3FMz7moucNWw4Vxz3Z47u3QBIqxYf1MrbVS8bNApgnHh4lNA4MyHONhYKQCvVRMF34vIVYb0d6nKrjaFeNbFYLF9/s1600/DSCN1216.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /> Hearing... the tinkling waterworks and hum of my diffuser and the wind blowing outside.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Smelling... elevation and grapefruit essential oils diffusing, trying to wake me up and make me more cheerfully motivated!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAV6plVEzSSUEyj7p_TtBb8DZ1RLc3uUEIZYvX0YSPC26aL1lBv9VFzmlqIv9izPjVYPpLsEV1ZSpKiATHgEuD4e8Ll8iIzllgpiI371AT5H3ZH-HlV9BWa5REyP73CDk3Mx-9daLGaW0C/s1600/DSCN1220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAV6plVEzSSUEyj7p_TtBb8DZ1RLc3uUEIZYvX0YSPC26aL1lBv9VFzmlqIv9izPjVYPpLsEV1ZSpKiATHgEuD4e8Ll8iIzllgpiI371AT5H3ZH-HlV9BWa5REyP73CDk3Mx-9daLGaW0C/s1600/DSCN1220.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Tasting... a cup of decaf with ghee</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Feeling... sleepy, hopeful, glad for a partial day without the kiddos. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh5UQ2LrFyt_8ToF8mBViYNVAzLtYLT3fJWo5xAwioEwRaw4DKN7w46a2uTZpIyBnPRnQfs3-JBJip8mmBcd3XdI6q6-WDN5hTWFV8s5_iNLu1Xkq209zfX887xODscqi69ORGEDXMHkwV/s1600/DSCN1217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh5UQ2LrFyt_8ToF8mBViYNVAzLtYLT3fJWo5xAwioEwRaw4DKN7w46a2uTZpIyBnPRnQfs3-JBJip8mmBcd3XdI6q6-WDN5hTWFV8s5_iNLu1Xkq209zfX887xODscqi69ORGEDXMHkwV/s1600/DSCN1217.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /> Time to clean the ratties' cage and complete my license restoration application so I can eventually work again!</div>
Carol Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14378692662567620945noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2135478613757790577.post-15284076219149519332015-03-01T10:34:00.000-09:002015-03-01T16:15:54.168-09:00SWD March 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Rqv_K2blN1N3GoQH9ZiY_PNqy8q1OjdqEfkzFDi-Kn9Te57cWVySMni1yoJUkKan92H7eSwvvyoWHw2Jk63f372hDmmVDjf6tclimho6ywqdJfpXXEZMH5CEphlgazCSRR-WB0Gonr8S/s1600/simple-woman-daybook-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Rqv_K2blN1N3GoQH9ZiY_PNqy8q1OjdqEfkzFDi-Kn9Te57cWVySMni1yoJUkKan92H7eSwvvyoWHw2Jk63f372hDmmVDjf6tclimho6ywqdJfpXXEZMH5CEphlgazCSRR-WB0Gonr8S/s1600/simple-woman-daybook-large.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #666666; font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Vollkorn;"><span style="color: white; line-height: 25.2000007629395px;">http://thesimplewoman.blogspot.com/</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2000007629395px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2000007629395px;">FOR TODAY... March 1, 2015</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;">Outside my window... there is a couple of inches of snow on the ground. The juncos and finches are enjoying the feeder on my back deck.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;">I am thinking... it will be nice when my new computer is set up so I can post pics again!</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;">I am thankful... that I have nothing too pressing to do today because I am warn out!</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;">In the kitchen... my kitchen needs attention badly as I have been so busy that I am not keeping up with everything, sadly.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;">I am wearing... church clothes but snuggled into bed to try to get warm.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;">I am creating... an appreciation in my family for nutritional foods (although no one much appreciates it right now as they are withdrawing from all the adulterated foods they are used to).</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;">I am wondering... how I can get on top of the sled of my life instead of continuing to be dragged behind plowing through the snow with my face.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;">I am reading... The Shining Company by Rosemary Sutcliff.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;">I am hoping... Princeton High School will have a good school option for both of my girls next fall and will take their credits from previous school work done.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;">I am looking forward to... resting today and a new women's group I am a part of on Thursday evening.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;">Around the house... my two youngest are playing Wii in the living room. My two oldest are doing homework.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;">One of my favorite things... birdfeeders and birds.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;">Highlights from this past week... We had our first visit to Chicago to see DD#2's new pediatric gastroenterologist. We really liked her. DD#1 is having female problems, so I took her to see a GYN. After we get lab results tomorrow, we'll hopefully get started on a solution. DD #3 was sick Monday and Tuesday with a sore throat -viral. DS was sick all week with an intestinal bug. I had parent teacher conferences for the two youngest. They both are doing very well. We got a new computer from Best Buy! We moved DH's parents the rest of the way into their new apartment yesterday. However, my FIL ended up back in the ER and was admitted back in to the hospital for a few days due to heart failure exasperation. He then needed moved back to the rehab program a few days later. Hopefully he'll be able to go to his new home in the next couple of weeks.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;">A few plans for the rest of the week: get stuff done that is stacking up on me and help my MIL get settled at her new place.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Vollkorn; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Carol Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14378692662567620945noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2135478613757790577.post-88187803429254678752015-02-23T07:46:00.000-09:002015-02-23T11:17:02.180-09:00MotherA mother walks a tightrope juggling<br />
In the air are various responsibilities.<br />
She runs up and down the tightrope as needed to keep each item in the air.<br />
Food for the family<br />
And healthy meals,<br />
Homeschooling a child with chronic health issues.<br />
Driving two children to school at different times,<br />
Later picking them up.<br />
Appointments to doctors,<br />
Dentists,<br />
Orthodontists,<br />
Specialists.<br />
Never-ending laundry,<br />
Housekeeping,<br />
Bills,<br />
Keeping the checkbook.<br />
Another child home sick, again and again.<br />
Soon she wearies.<br />
Things drop here and there.<br />
She cannot keep them all in the air.<br />
She forgets to pick up the kids.<br />
She misses the PTO meeting.<br />
No time for her husband who works long hours.<br />
Why do the kids keep getting sick?<br />
Keep everything in the air, mother.<br />
You can't let them drop.<br />
The stress of it all burns her out.<br />
She can't keep up.<br />
The inability to pay all the bills puts her off balance.<br />
How could she possibly hold a job and keep all these things in the air?<br />
She feels disaster is looming.<br />
Each day she picks herself up,<br />
Keeping it all going.<br />
The weight is tremendous, but she cannot stay down.<br />
Breathe, mother!<br />
Then one day she realizes something.<br />
She does not need to do it alone.<br />
Her God is holding things up in the air<br />
When she lets Him.<br />
When she asks.<br />
He is giving her grace<br />
And wisdom<br />
And strength<br />
If she comes to Him<br />
And asks<br />
With the faith of a child.<br />
<br />
<br />Carol Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14378692662567620945noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2135478613757790577.post-24790483358972350302015-02-20T08:36:00.000-09:002015-02-20T08:42:23.184-09:00Daybook Entry 2-20-15<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Kranky; font-size: 30px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0.75em 0px 0px; position: relative; text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Bd7sNNBHMoMbOsCSVwA3FfEfmiPm5tYaBwUShn02bGUMbmmzjDkXLTIjZYPdf81yl_rMUCKL0CUstRkWXpbp7nlHWErnkoUV6oXDnHFwBo1__NaLmtwFoP90ctIisRwczw1u6XtmQdLm/s1600/simple-woman-daybook-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #539acd; font-family: 'IM Fell Great Primer SC'; font-size: 26px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Bd7sNNBHMoMbOsCSVwA3FfEfmiPm5tYaBwUShn02bGUMbmmzjDkXLTIjZYPdf81yl_rMUCKL0CUstRkWXpbp7nlHWErnkoUV6oXDnHFwBo1__NaLmtwFoP90ctIisRwczw1u6XtmQdLm/s1600/simple-woman-daybook-large.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" /></a></div>
</h3>
<div class="post-header" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em;">
<div class="post-header-line-1">
</div>
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6614682265780647733" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 638px;">
<div style="line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
http://thesimplewoman.blogspot.com/ </div>
<div style="line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
<strong>The Daybook is a blogging exercise I used to indulge in during my early blogging years. I came across it again today and was inspired to use the template pounce again to get my blogging re-kickstarted.</strong></div>
<div style="line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
FOR TODAY, Friday February 20, 2015</div>
<div style="line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
Outside my window...The wind is blowing snow flurries around and many little birds are enjoying the birdfeeder on my back deck. Warmer than yesterday, the temps will get up into the 20s today. Yesterday it stayed below zero all day.</div>
<div style="line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
I am thinking... I really enjoyed the new Bible/book study that I took part in with some of women from my church, from another local church, and the staff here at Menno Haven. I was hoping to find a reason to fellowship with the women from the other local church, and this will be perfect! </div>
<div style="line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
I am thankful... For a warm house and that I did the shopping yesterday so my cupboards are full today! </div>
<div style="line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
In the kitchen... Lately we've been going to a major transition in the way that we eat. We have almost completely eliminated dairy from our diets. We are eliminating all grains, sweeteners, processed foods, etc for the next 30 days. It is called the Whole 30 program.</div>
<div style="line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
I am wearing... Long underwear, black cords, red turtleneck, grey, red, black and white striped sweater</div>
<div style="line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
I am creating... A healthy family, a clean house, and a blog entry!</div>
<div style="line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
I am going... To take Jaedyn to school in a few minutes.</div>
<div style="line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
I am wondering... If we will ever find a good school solution for Jaedyn.</div>
<div style="line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
I am reading... It Starts with Food by Dallas and Melissa Hartwig, and finishing book 5 of The Viking Quest series by Lois Walfred Johnson. Both excellent reading.</div>
<div style="line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
I am hoping... To get to the point that all my kids will be in school and thriving.</div>
<div style="line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
I am looking forward to... Seeing what good changes the Whole 30 will bring to my family.</div>
<div style="line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
I am learning... About nutrition and healthy diets - quite contrary to common medical advice.</div>
<div style="line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
Around the house... The rats are happy in their clean cage. Joe is in the clean living room on the couch watching The Hobbit DVD because he has a stomach bug.</div>
<div style="line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
I am pondering... what to do today. I don't have much motivation.</div>
<div style="line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
A favorite quote for today... "The only ill will you will see here is that which you bring among yourselves." Gandalf to Thorin Oakenshield upon entering Rivendell.</div>
<div style="line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
One of my favorite things... My Bible. I got it for my 16th birthday over 30 years ago.</div>
<div style="line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
A few plans for the rest of the week: Tonight starts Sabbath.</div>
<div style="line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
A peek into my day...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUnxYTvU42RtMBw5d9tvvhSw7J4VEUPMnlpTtSWU-J6Jm9Y5fg-JyVaKeZfB7DgCyKGg_GZFZ2POCK_RSJmXcsRq7jOJZfMqwm6Q3ICFtXRYkuy9gZNf1F4KQ1lE6Tt3Ybp3zdYS2_ge3P/s1600/IMG_20150220_111713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUnxYTvU42RtMBw5d9tvvhSw7J4VEUPMnlpTtSWU-J6Jm9Y5fg-JyVaKeZfB7DgCyKGg_GZFZ2POCK_RSJmXcsRq7jOJZfMqwm6Q3ICFtXRYkuy9gZNf1F4KQ1lE6Tt3Ybp3zdYS2_ge3P/s1600/IMG_20150220_111713.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 25.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Carol Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14378692662567620945noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2135478613757790577.post-88202909647188354382015-02-06T10:24:00.000-09:002015-02-06T10:24:20.359-09:00Taking care of DavidMy in-law's are the main reason we made a major disruption in our family to move back to Illinois. My father-in-law, David, had a stroke back in 2010 just as we moved to Alaska. He recovered fairly well, but has struggled with memory issues and a general health decline since then.<br />
<br />
My mother-in-law, Margaret, has been caring for him along with a close knit community since that time, but the burden of his care has become to much for her. He is 82 and she is 78.<br />
<br />
I was coming and staying with David once a week so that Margaret could have some time out of the house. We also shared supper with them once a week.<br />
<br />
About 2 weeks ago, David had to go to the ER by ambulance because he couldn't breathe. He ended up being intubated and transferred to a bigger hospital. He recovered nicely from CHF and Wednesday night I helped bring him back to a local facility where he is getting therapy to help him get his strength back so he can go home. He no longer is short of breath or needing oxygen. It is sad to visit him in the evenings though because he gets confused and seems quite unhappy. I think we will have to visit him frequently the so Margaret can get home and get rest.<br />
<br />
Margaret and David will be moving to another home soon. It will be hard for David again due to another change, but he will hopefully be back with Margaret and feel at home again quickly.Carol Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14378692662567620945noreply@blogger.com8