Jan. 13-19, 2019
Flu Week Two, Marie Kondo, My Fall
Hello Friends!
To Dd's dismay, she was still sick this whole week and I have to admit my stomach was still off all week too. We are normally a fairly motivated family, but we had another off week. Dd only left the house on Friday for her Grace classes--no church or fun. We didn't have any doctor appointments; which would have been effortless with the roads being perfectly fine for the first part of the week.
Dh's Eye:
It has been EIGHT weeks since Dh had his surprise eye surgeries. Our life still feels upside-down with Dh home all day and needing eye drops given 4x daily. Each week gets a little better for him and his eyesight is slowly returning. I had no idea how difficult it was going to be learning how to get the right paperwork from various doctors to the people at Mutual of Omaha for Dh's short-term disability; it is hoop after hoop after hoop. We have to ask for the doctors to submit the notes from every visit and sometimes the doctor's staff fail to fax or email and then we don't find out for days or a week later. Needless to say, we often don't get his check for weeks in between; and it only covers 60% of his normal pay. I really didn't know how much of a hassle it would be, but am very appreciative to receive the help. We've always paid into disability; just in case, and now I see how wise a decision that is!
 |
| It's always fun looking for new mushrooms in the woods |
Dh's Eye:
It has been EIGHT weeks since Dh had his surprise eye surgeries. Our life still feels upside-down with Dh home all day and needing eye drops given 4x daily. Each week gets a little better for him and his eyesight is slowly returning. I had no idea how difficult it was going to be learning how to get the right paperwork from various doctors to the people at Mutual of Omaha for Dh's short-term disability; it is hoop after hoop after hoop. We have to ask for the doctors to submit the notes from every visit and sometimes the doctor's staff fail to fax or email and then we don't find out for days or a week later. Needless to say, we often don't get his check for weeks in between; and it only covers 60% of his normal pay. I really didn't know how much of a hassle it would be, but am very appreciative to receive the help. We've always paid into disability; just in case, and now I see how wise a decision that is!
 |
| Learning to enjoy the cloudy days in Michigan. |
Snow and Fall:
Oi, did I slip and fall on our driveway on Saturday! I was so lucky that I didn't break anything b/c I really had a face-dive. I think my whole body weight landed on my left hand's pinky. The first day my pinky was bruised and miserable, it was immediately hurting, but my left hip got worse the second day while my hand started to feel a little better. I was very fortunate not to have broken anything on such an epic wipe-out.
Youth Program:
Sunday Dd couldn't go to church in the morning because she was still in the midst of her swollen throat and flu. I was super surprised when she wanted to go to Youth Program and was beyond flabbergasted that I wouldn't let her go. She was so upset, but I just couldn't see spreading her germs to her friends at church. She did start back talking to me by Monday night! She was sick the whole week and realized she wasn't feeling as recovered as she thought she was.
I found this tree---really getting eaten by something. On the ground you can see the pieces of bark and pulp that dropped. This is very interesting-- I wonder what is eating it?
Walking Henry:
Last week and all this week Dd was too sick to walk our dog, Henry. Once this week Dh went on a walk with me, out in the woods, with Henry. It is nice to share the woods with another. Henry is probably 12 months old around now and still is an all hyper puppy and needs 2-4 walks, at least 30 minutes each, daily. It takes a lot of time and energy to see him through his puppy years; which we had another walker in the family so share the walkies with!
Walking Paths:
This was a really perfect week to build up and start new paths in the woods. I've been picking up fallen trees and branches to stack up and make little fences, of wood, on our paths. It makes our trails look so pretty!
We had a few pretty days in the early part of the week, without snow, so I was able to make some progress. I have to admit about half of the branches were frozen to the ground and wouldn't budge so I couldn't do as much as I tried to do.
Chickens:
The chickens are doing very well. This week I sold 5 dozen eggs to our friend, Kim. I've sold to her a few times since Dh has been off work. He used to sell our eggs at work and occasionally I'd sell some to Kim. Now with such infrequent selling, I've been cooking scrambled eggs for Henry and for the scrawny hens; like Beth and Bunny. I actually feed more hens than just the small ones, I fill up the trough with left-overs and some of the eggs to give the girls a treat. They are happy when I let them outside and get a dirt bath.
Pastor Ron:
This week was our Pastor's second to last service before he retires. We had a pastor leave the church we were attending years ago in Indiana, but that was for a different job. Our pastor is retiring here in this situation. In both church's the new pastor is very young and that always makes me a little hesitant. I'm hoping this time will go better than it did for us before. This time we have been very actively praying for him and his family during the two years he has been apprenticing with our pastor. I know our whole church is praying for his success. Next week will be his last sermon as our pastor...hard to believe!
Christmas Down:
I managed to get all the Christmas decorations down, boxed up and carried to our attic.
Youth Program:
Sunday Dd couldn't go to church in the morning because she was still in the midst of her swollen throat and flu. I was super surprised when she wanted to go to Youth Program and was beyond flabbergasted that I wouldn't let her go. She was so upset, but I just couldn't see spreading her germs to her friends at church. She did start back talking to me by Monday night! She was sick the whole week and realized she wasn't feeling as recovered as she thought she was.
I found this tree---really getting eaten by something. On the ground you can see the pieces of bark and pulp that dropped. This is very interesting-- I wonder what is eating it?
Walking Henry:
Last week and all this week Dd was too sick to walk our dog, Henry. Once this week Dh went on a walk with me, out in the woods, with Henry. It is nice to share the woods with another. Henry is probably 12 months old around now and still is an all hyper puppy and needs 2-4 walks, at least 30 minutes each, daily. It takes a lot of time and energy to see him through his puppy years; which we had another walker in the family so share the walkies with!
 |
Fresh Mushrooms in January |
 |
| I've just started this one--just a few trees so far. |
Walking Paths:
This was a really perfect week to build up and start new paths in the woods. I've been picking up fallen trees and branches to stack up and make little fences, of wood, on our paths. It makes our trails look so pretty!
We had a few pretty days in the early part of the week, without snow, so I was able to make some progress. I have to admit about half of the branches were frozen to the ground and wouldn't budge so I couldn't do as much as I tried to do.
Chickens:
The chickens are doing very well. This week I sold 5 dozen eggs to our friend, Kim. I've sold to her a few times since Dh has been off work. He used to sell our eggs at work and occasionally I'd sell some to Kim. Now with such infrequent selling, I've been cooking scrambled eggs for Henry and for the scrawny hens; like Beth and Bunny. I actually feed more hens than just the small ones, I fill up the trough with left-overs and some of the eggs to give the girls a treat. They are happy when I let them outside and get a dirt bath.
Pastor Ron:
This week was our Pastor's second to last service before he retires. We had a pastor leave the church we were attending years ago in Indiana, but that was for a different job. Our pastor is retiring here in this situation. In both church's the new pastor is very young and that always makes me a little hesitant. I'm hoping this time will go better than it did for us before. This time we have been very actively praying for him and his family during the two years he has been apprenticing with our pastor. I know our whole church is praying for his success. Next week will be his last sermon as our pastor...hard to believe!
Christmas Down:
I managed to get all the Christmas decorations down, boxed up and carried to our attic.
Tidying Up:
We spent another week sorting through our things and ended up taking 14 trash bags and 4 boxes to donate at our local thrift store. This thrift store is a special church-run, local, volunteer-ran store that also has a food bank and other resources.
The money they make selling things goes back into the organization to help people in our area. It is amazing. So glad we watched Marie Kondo! We still have so much more to go through and let go of, but we have started! Now, if I can just avoid buying back the things I donated...things I'd already bought there last year!
Snow and Hailee:
Saturday began with 3 inches of fresh snow and we had scheduled for Hailee to come over. Since Dd was still not feeling great I got up early and got the snow blower out and cleared our driveway for her. The girls always have such a good time together!
Academics for the Week:
 |
| The watercolor Dd gave me for my Christmas gift |
Grace Classes:
Geography: BJU (continues to be one of Dd's favorite classes)
Algebra I: Saxon (going well!)
Spanish I ('okay,' but Dd says it is hard having a foreign language class that only meets once a week.)
Graphic Design (going well, ends soon)
Introductory Logic: (getting better as Dd gets more into it)
Next Week:
Dh goes back to his eye doctor--Dr. Gindzin. Perhaps he will be allowed to go back to work soon??? A bunch of snow and two Arctic blasts are scheduled to arrive, so of course, we have four doctor appointments between us! Not to mention church activities and Grace classes in Grand Rapids. It is a very busy week and the weather is supposed to be awful!
........
