Jan 6-12, 2019 FLU, Eye Doc, Math

Jan 6-12, 2019 

FLU, Eye Doc, Math

Hello Friends!

Sunday Drive Home:

We had breakfast with Giz and Grampy on Sunday and saw them off to church.  Then we loaded up our car and started our 8-hour drive home.  Like the drive to Indiana, Dd drove the whole way home too.  We enjoyed listening to My Antonia by Willa Cather both ways.  Dd usually drives just under the speed limit so it takes a little longer than when I drive, but it was good for her to get so much driving time under her belt.

No sick days when you homeschool!  

When we returned home from the Christmas party (Dh's family), we did not know we had already been infected from the flu going around in Indiana.  I woke up Monday with the flu, but had to take Dh in for his eye appointment at 7:35 on the other side of Grand Rapids, a 45-minute drive across a lot of ice.  I managed to postpone the vomiting until I got back home, with great effort.  This was a nasty flu---I'll just let your imagination fill in the details.  Oddly enough, all three of us had different flu symptoms.  Fortunately, Dh didn't get my vomiting sessions or Dd's swollen infected throat; he was just 'run over' and exhausted.  All of us were sick ALL week and flash-forward the next week too.  With the flu, we didn't have a very exciting week.

Dh's Eye Appt.

Seven Weeks Post Surgery!  Dr. Gindzin took out the stitch in his eye from the re-attached retina surgery.  It is crazy to think we are coming up on two months of this upheaval!  Dr. Gindzin had said it would be around seven weeks of recovery and I had hoped he was only saying that long to surprise us with it being shorter; kind of expecting the worst and then being happier when it isn't that bad; but, really it is taking that long...actually longer!  This visit was actually void of any pessimism; which was a first.  The doctor seemed open to Dh returning to work soon...with restrictions.  With Dh not being in such a critical status we don't have an appointment next week, but the week after.  His pressures were 15 in each eye---so much better than the week he had a score of 46.  The gas bubble is down to 7%.  Dh can now keep his head up all day, but he still can't lay his head back and sleep in bed.  Dh continues to sleep sitting in a high-backed chair in our living room with his head up or facing down.

Dh still appreciates these lay-downs each day.  After sitting up in a recliner all night he likes being able to stretch his body out and rest different muscles using his special table with the hole in the middle to watch a show.

Outbuilding:
The main reason Dh liked the house we live at now is that it has an 'outbuilding' where he could piddle and build things...or fix things.  Our house in Indiana didn't have anything but a small garage and he didn't have much space to do anything.  Last week Dr. Gindzin stopped one eye drop that dilated his pupil and made seeing difficult.  With his vision returned Dh has been able to spend some time out in his shop.  He has been trying to figure out how to improve his router skills and building a rolling workbench in the process.  It is nice to see him out of the living room chair and able to move about again.  

The new Bible Study Dh and I have been using...I'm not as impressed as I'd hoped, but Dh is liking it.

Dd to Doctor:

Dd asked to go to the doctor this week; her throat was hurting her so much.  She had white spots the back of her throat.  The nurse practitioner that we saw explained that those white spots don't necessarily mean she has strep-throat!  I never knew you could have those spots and it not be strep.  She also shared that the mucus she had was another symptom that negated the strep diagnosis.  They took two swabs of her throat and both eventually came back negative for strep.  We continued doing all we can at home and started the Ibuprofen like we were told to do.  It was a very long week with both her and I being sick.

I've been pecking at this book for the last two months.

Hiking and Henry:

This has been a record-breaking winter for Grand Rapids, Michigan---this is the least snowy winter on record!!  The good thing about that is that Henry and I haven't missed many of our walks this winter.  If we had feet of snow, like we normally do, it might be impossible to take Henry all through the woods like I have been able to do.  I know the snow is coming next week and will likely stay until March, but I am just so thankful for the blessings of clear paths thus far this winter.

Chickens:

We have had such a mild winter the chickens have been able to be outside so much more than normal.  Usually they don't get their dirt baths and running these weeks in winter, but they are this year.  

Marie Kondo:
Have you heard about Tidying Up?  We watched the first episode and spent the week going through our kitchen, laundry, and clothing to donate those things that don't 'ching' (spark joy) for us.  We still have a lot of things to go through; but we have started; even Dh is going through his clothes which is miraculous.  Go Kondo!

This fall and winter I've hit the BONE BROTH hard.  It really does help my IBS, Gerd, Reflux, and all those problems.  I'm glad I have finally fully embraced it more than a twice a year soup.  It helps!  This is a ham bone/shank.

Dd's Academic's for the Week:

Dd no-volunteering:

I called off all outings except Dd's Friday Grace classes, so she didn't get to volunteer at church or the library this week.  Dd

Bible:

We were driving during church time this week, but we made it home in time for Dd to make it to her Youth Program on Sunday night.  She has continued to do her Word of Life Bible study every day and Dh and I are really enjoying our morning Bible Study.

my favorite commentary

Math:

Dh has spent a lot of time this week working with Dd on her math lessons.  I can't emphasize just how happy that makes me!!  I am not great at helping Dd with her math and Dh has such a great recall on all these procedures.  Great math week!! 

Still figuring out my new commentaries--Xmas 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:
Dd has her last class in Graphic Design.  I'm so glad she had the opportunity to take this class, as homeschoolers we don't always offer many 'fun' classes.  

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Dec. 30-Jan. 5, 2019 Indiana Christmas Party, Movie Theatre, Dh: Church,

Dec. 30-Jan. 5, 2019 

Happy New Year!
Indiana Christmas Party

I was able to take a picture of the painting Dd gave Grampy last year for Christmas.  It is of the family farm's barn.  They hung it right above their fireplace; the primmest spot.

Hello Friends!

We spent the week getting ready for our annual Christmas party, in southern Indiana, with Dh's family.  Once again, Hailee, Dd's dear friend, agreed to stay in our home to take care of all our critters for us.  I took care to buy her some frozen pizza's and have some of her favorites on hand.  She says she likes to stay at our house and I know I feel so much better knowing my animals aren't left alone.  

New Year's Eve: (This paragraph won't center---sorry!)

We had our small intimate special Christmas Eve party this year.  We lit up our special angel/candle/bell thingy; my grandmother used to light up one similar when I was growing up on this night.  And we had two bottles of sparkling cider and fancy glasses to make our toasts in a rotation.  We toasted so many things---from honoring my rooster, Zeus, to Dh's successful surgeries, to my gallbladder being removed last February (which I regret!).  The toasts are always a lot of fun.  We managed to stay up until 11:30 before falling asleep.  Just the three of us, nice and cozy, and full of us being thankful for all that happened in 2018.

Felt Birds:

I *finally* started on my 2018 felt birds this week.  Giz has brought up how much she loves the felt birds I've given her for Christmas presents, so I wanted to make sure I had her one done for this year.  I decided to make her a pretty yellow one; like a goldfinch size.

Audio:
My Antonia by Willa Cather: In Process
We are really enjoying this new audio!
  

My grandmother had one of these neat candle/bell things.  It is one of the very few family traditions I remember.

Movies:

All three of us went to the movies this week to see Aquaman, the new DC movie.  It was visually interesting but so different than how I envision Aquaman.  I was a little disappointed how 'ruff-gruff manly-man' stereotype they cast Aquaman as I always saw him as being so empathetic and connected to the sea life.  It was okay, just not how I grew up imagining him.  More than anything else, it was just fun to be at the movies!!!  We have a wonderful, very small theatre (small audiences) in our little town with the best massive electric reclining chairs.

This is what a party looks like in our home---Sparkling Ciders and fancy glasses!

Church:

Finally, this Sunday Dh returned back to church!  He felt ready to return; his doctor is letting him keep his head up hours each day. It was so nice having back in our pew!

Giz has this little spot for her favorite photo's of her grandkids.  She loves them SO!  Now JC's daughters have made it up too!  Dd is in the big hat.  T is adopted and one of my favorite family members.

Dh's Eye:

This week (Mon & Tues) mark six weeks since Dh had his cataract and then retina surgery.  His eye is very slowly healing; slow and steady.  His activity level seems to also be slowly improving.  Prayers appreciated that his retina will attach and stay attached!!! 

Giz with N., her grandson's daughter, living next door now.

Sleep-Over:

After church, on Sunday, Dd asked to go home with Hailee to spend the day...well, a few hours later she called to ask to spend the night.  

Expense Report:

This isn't something I'd normally share, but it was such a huge relief to me---Dh finally completed his expense report for his last trip to Italy in March.  We drove the report to his office in Grand Raids and turned it in on Tuesday night!!!  This was one of those items I had been asking him to do for 10-11 months!!  So glad that is finally done and off my mental list of things to try and get completed.  We all have those lists of things that we have no control over and have to accept the timing from God and that has been my nemesis for so long; how many times I've prayed for Dh to complete over all these months.  Thankful it is done.

Grampy walking by Aunt April.

Christmas Shopping:

With our family Christmas party on Saturday, we had to get our last gifts at various stores this week.  Dh took us to find a special tool for Grampy at a store called Harbor Freight.  It took most of the week, a thing here and there, but we finally got it all together.  I had a lot of fun creatively wrapping the gifts!!!  

The best gift we are giving this year---slow smoked ribs!  Dh and I bought a bunch of slabs of ribs and Dh cooked them.  I 'tested' one piece and it was amazing!!  The best ribs he has ever made!  Then he wrapped them up and froze them.  We gave them to G&G for one of their gifts, and they put them in their freezer and pull out a few at a time for their meals.  Such a great idea Dh thought of years ago and a gift they really, really seem to appreciate.

Everyone finding their seats before the gifts get opened...one at a time in a circle.  It took about 2 1/2 hours for each of us to open our 5-6 gifts.  I received a pretty metal rooster!!!

Wrapping:

Dd agreed to wrap the Aldi chocolate bars that we gave as gifts, but I wrapped all the other presents.  Actually, this year I didn't wrap everything---each year we buy Giz (Dh's mom) a 50 lb. bag of sunflower seeds and a big bag of blue mechanic paper towels for Grampy, and I didn't wrap those big bags this year.

The Indianapolis Colts (football team) were playing today, so T was anxious to get through our party asap!

Mom/Transitions:

It was a really difficult week with my mom as she is unhappy with living in limbo in Maine.  She hastily moved to Ohio last year.  She had flown to visit a friend on March 3rd and then called to say she had already moved on the 31st!!!  Then Oct. 26th she flew/moved back to Maine without having an apartment lined up.  She thought she would easily slip back into an apartment, but that has proven impossible.  She is really struggling with the consequences of all these impulsive decisions and considered moving here for a few days.  Prayers appreciated for an apartment to open up for my mom and for her to find some peace in her life.  It is hard watching your mom struggle so and it is another one of those situations where I don't have any control and have to turn it over to God to help. 

Christmas party:

It was a bit different this year.  Dh, Dd and I usually stay at the family farm or a hotel but opted this time to spent our visit staying with G&G.  They had offered to pay for the hotel, but I just felt too guilty having them pay.  Dh's middle brother and family are living at the farm this year while sorting out their next home purchase.  Dh still has to sleep sitting up in a recliner, so he was out in the living room sitting there all night and we didn't have to worry about a hotel having a good cushy chair for Dh to sleep in.

Can you see the two little white eggs?  Those are from Miss Lemon, our Bantam hen.  They are all doing well!

The morning of the party got off to an odd start; Dh's eldest brother called to chat with G&G only to be told the party was in 3 hours!  He thought the party was next weekend!!!  He had also been sick, with the flu, the day before and was a bit out of sorts.  Fast forward to Monday when I woke up with the flu and spent the whole day (and night) vomiting....wonder who I picked up the flu from???  He called his wife, at work, and they all managed to rearrange and hustle and still made it to G&G's house faster than the family that actually lived NEXT DOOR!!!!  Really, the nephew (and family) that live next door to G&G were over an hour late to the party!  It doesn't really matter how many hours it takes to get to someone's house to be the earliest or latest, I find.

Instead of getting a gift that Giz picks out, she lets me buy my own 'book' gift.  This year I picked these two Bible Commentaries by Wiersbe after appreciating the Transformation Bible (by Wiersbe) that I borrowed from a friend in my Ladies Bible Study group / Sunday School class.

 In the end, all but one niece made it to the party, as she works for a cruise line and was in the tropics somewhere and was 'kind' enough to skype in and show us the blue ocean behind her in the immense sunshine!

To add to the other Bible Commentaries we use---so far my favorite is the Believer's Bible Commentary by Willaim MacDonald.

The party was a lot of fun and it was great getting to see everyone all together.  We had the extra blessing of seeing many of them at a niece's wedding a few months ago, but not everyone, so this was great.  It is also hitting me hard this year, after Giz having so many health scares the past 3 years, that any Christmas could be our very last Christmas with this exact group.  I'm glad I am appreciating them while I have the chance, but it is bittersweet. 

One of the adult Sunday School groups at our church is doing this bible study.  Dh chose it for us to do together now that we finished Seamless by Angie Smith.

Next Week:
Dh has another eye appointment with his eye doctor; who had been on vacation the last few visits.  We are hoping to get more information and ideas about what we should be planning for from him at this visit.  Dd returns back to her Grace co-op classes, to her dismay!!!
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Dd Volunteering at Library - Dec. 2018 Bulletin Boards

Dd Volunteering at Library - 

Dec. 2018 

Bulletin Boards

This is the first bulletin board the library asked Dd to do in December.

Over the summer the library has a youth volunteer group working throughout the library over the summer.  They asked each student to submit a photo for their "Teen Nook" area.  It was so interesting to see how each youth decided to present themselves.

Dd's photo was of her reading J.R. Tolkien's, The Hobbit...of course!

I'm not sure you can read it, but above the windows, overlooking our river, is posted the following quote:
" A room without books is like a body without a soul." by Marcus Tullius Cicero.  We have a wonderful view to read by!

About a week after her first bulletin board they asked her to do another one listing the upcoming events.  She felt so special to be asked to help out!  She really loves volunteering there!

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Woods in December 2018

Woods in December 2018

This winter in Grand Rapids, Michigan, we have been getting about 10 percent sunshine.  That means that many days are like the picture above--- a 'blanket' of clouds concealing any sunshine day after day after day.  Occasionally we will have a day with some sunshine that helps to put a smile on our faces.  But, this picture does a good job of capturing the gray skies of this area.  

A typical sky-view in the middle of the day--no sun.

We are a 45-minute drive from the massive Lake Michigan and the lake does a fantastic job of making precipitation.  According to my research, the only city in the U.S.A. that gets more precipitation is Seattle, Washington!  Seattle is well-known for being a dreary and cloudy city, but I'd never heard that about Grand Rapids until we moved here!

This has been a VERY unusual winter in as much as we haven't had the feet of snow like we normally have.  The meteorologist said this week that the rest of the winter is to be full of snow! Oh, joy!

So very, very thankful we were blessed to find a  home in Michigan with a big back yard where we can walk our dog and not worry about getting hit by a car or running into neighbors.  These woods are truly one of my most counted things each morning when I thank the Lord for my blessings.  

Thank You, Lord, for our woods!

I've spent another month working on building up branch trail fences.  I have to admit it, it is just fun to do!!  I like being outside and getting exercise while I am creating something aesthetically pleasing to see while I walk Henry around our woods.

Just remember---this is the middle of the day!  Just NO Sunshine!

Many of the branches I put down as my 'fence,' Henry pulls out and carries off for his enjoyment...fun.  He also "helps" me carry each branch over---usually tugging in the opposite direction!!! True.

 One of the benefits of living in such a humid area is that the woods are full of so many types of algae/fungus growths.  All year round you will find new things growing in the dirt, hummus, and dead trees.

Wherever you are; enjoy your sunshine for me.  I will have to find silver linings here---like our lack of sun-damaged skin!  My dermatologist pointed that out to me last month!  That is a blessing to remember.

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Christmas Day Food 2018

Christmas Day Food

 2018

 Christmas Eve was busy with Dh making up his dough, letting it rise, and by the time it came out of the oven it was time for bed.

Dh put the glaze on top of the cinnamon rolls.  We had cinnamon rolls for Christmas breakfast before we opened our gifts.

Christmas lunch:

One of our favorite dishes: Gomae
it is basically just cooked down spinach, sesame seeds, soy sauce, sugar...etc.  I love it!

Dd has been asking for shrimp for four years, since we didn't have many 'specials' this year we surprised her with shrimp for Thanksgiving and Christmas this year.

  Another favorite of Dd is homemade egg rolls, she fills them with veg. 

Agadashi Tofu:
Lastly, all three of us love tofu!!!  We could eat it every night!  Dh makes a fish/soy sauce that has a bunch of stuff in it that is amazing.  We normally do not eat fried food; so this is an unhealthy meal for us, but perfect for a Christmas!

This was my plate! Yum!

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