Dec. 22-28, 2019 Christmas! Indiana Xmas Party

Dec. 22-28, 2019 

Christmas! Indiana Xmas Party

Henry was accepted into the extended family; here cousin Charlotte is snuggling up.  She just loved Henry and he just loved her right back!!

Hello Friends!

Dh's Gag Gift for his Dad:

Michigan, especially Flint, Mi., is known for having really hazardous tap water and we joke with our Hoosier family about the water quality here.  Dh designed and printed labels and then added some coffee grounds to some water to complete this gift for his dad.  Grampy laughed and laughed at the humorous labels!

 Merry Christmas, Friends!

We are all trying to finally get in the Christmas spirit and get ready for the big day.  Dh is still fighting the flu, so his progress is a bit hindered.  

I took pictures while we visited our old home on Dh's family farm.  Dh and I walked around visiting our favorite trees and I thought I'd share a few in this post.  The farm is in southern Indiana.

G&G's Meat Gift:

Sounds funny, but this is Dh's big Xmas gift for his parents.  He bought ribs, pork chops, brisket, hot dogs, and bratwurst then slow cooked them in his smoker.  Then he figured out how much they would want for a meal portion and wrapped that up in freezer paper and then in freezer Ziplock bags.  They just have to pull out one bag, of their choice meat, and warm it up for their meals.  They really appreciate how well he cooks meat and he is happy to make them happy. It took him, on and off, two weeks of cooking and wrapping to get through all the meats.

Aunt April, like most of our family, is a dog lover.  Boy, Henry just looks extremely happy to be with her!

Rise of Skywalker Movie:

Last week Dd and Seth saw the latest Star Wars movie the day it opened, but Dh and I waited until Monday this week.  We saw it in 3D, but it wasn't really filmed in a 3D way, so it was kind of a waste of money.  I liked the movie, but Dh, who has been one of those epic Star Wars fans his whole life was disappointed.  The good news is that we both have loved Disney's Mandalorian!  That is a fantastic series and we've loved it.

We were hoping for some of the sunshine that southern Indiana is known for,  but instead, we thought we were in Grand Rapids still!!  The last two visits to Indiana were dreary, so unusual.

Prep & Landing: Disney Xmas Animation 

Once again, Prep and Landing (and Naughty vs Nice), got me in the Christmas spirit this week!  I have no idea why I like this short little animation, but I do!  In case you are corny, like me, feel free to check it out next year and chuckle along with the show.  Betty White is Mrs. Claus and has a very funny part in the Specials/Extra section.

Christmas Tree:

I'm not sure which day, but I did get a little Xmas tree up this week.  We had bought Dd a small little tree for her bedroom when she was little, and I used that tree this year instead of our big full-sized tree.  I used some of my homemade felt birds to decorate the tree.  I'm glad I finally got something up.  I had asked Dd to do the tree this year, since my hands are healing from the surgeries, but she must not have had time or inclination.  

Our Christmas:

This was such a strange Christmas for us!  Who knew last year was the last year of having a 'kid' for Christmas?  Somehow in the past months, Dd got a job and a boyfriend and has a whole other life beyond us!!  Having a job means she can buy herself lots of little gifts that she would only have gotten from me on Christmas, so her anticipation was down drastically regarding what we were going to buy her!  So she slept late...for the first time ever!  She used to wake us up starting at 3 am!!  This year I think she woke up somewhere between 11 and 12 o'clock.

We played games for hours and had such a lovely time.

Presents:

Well, for the first time in 15 years our presents were not thrift store gifts!  Although some were present, that wasn't the majority.  This year we just had a very small number of thoughtful gifts.  I bought Dh two of those 3-button shirts and a very nice dress shirt at JC Penny for work and three fun Star Wars t-shirts.  I found a really good history book at a thrift store and his usual supply of M&M's and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.  He bought himself a few tools he needed and was kind enough to wrap them up.  I know his 'big' gift to himself was a cordless Reciprocating Saw and extra blades.  Dd also bought Dh some M&M's, Life Saver's,  and Reese's.

His gift for me this year was a cordless drill and a case of various bits to go with it so I can tighten or loosen just about anything.  He also bought me another set of screwdrivers to have handy in the house.

Dd bought me: a bag of Epsom's salt--to take a bath in, Burt's Bee's lip balm and a wicked rooster t-shirt!  

G&G got me two essential oils, cards, six months of watching Britbox or Acorn TV, and a cut out of sheet metal of a rooster--a small home decoration.

As soon as we brought Dd home from the hospital I started bringing her out here, first in her Baby Bjorn baby carrier, then in a bicycle stroller that maneuvered all the hills perfectly.  She spent so much time out here on these trails.  Her first night home from the hospital she wouldn't stop crying and crying, so out of desperation I brought her outside and she immediately stopped crying...that worked all the years we lived here.  

My mom sent us a gift certificate of $50 to use however I wish--or share with the family.  

We opened our presents, which didn't take very long, and Dd had to run off to be apart of her boyfriend's family party which started around 2 pm.  It was so weird not having Dd around on Xmas...so weird!!!  The changes to our family that has ever been so dynamic are when we first brought her home.  We are all trying to wrap our brains around having our 'little' girl get closer and closer to turning 18 years old in just a few months.  We have gone into 'warp speed' as she has approached adulthood.

The first picture I've taken of Dd and Seth--they're heading out for a hike in the woods~

Family Xmas in Indiana:

Saturday was Dh's family Xmas party.  This year Dd invited her boyfriend, Seth, along.  Dd and Seth drove down in his car and Dh and I went together.  We played games at the table with family for hours after the presents were opened.  It was nice laughing with everyone!

Academic Progress for Dd:

Bible and Independent Bible Study
Church

What a great photo!

Read Aloud:

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens




Reader:
A Diary of A Young Girl by Anne Frank 
Dd skipped reading this week.



Work:
Dd is enjoying working at a little pizza shop

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Dec. 15-21, 2019 Winter Solstice, Flu, The Rise of Skywalker

Dec. 15-21, 2019 

Winter Solstice, Flu, The Rise of Skywalker

Henry

Hello Friends!

Dd had been counting down the days until the Star Wars movie came out---The Rise of Skywalker.  Each day this month she has worn a different Star Wars t-shirt or item of clothing as a count down to the movie!  So funny!  Thursday night, Dd finally got to see the movie!  For a Star Wars fan of her caliber, this was extremely important!  After the movie, she and two of her friends discussed it for three hours!  Dh and I are planning to wait until next week when the theaters won't be so crowded.

Henry

Dr. Do/Hand Surgeon:

Monday was my post-op appointment with my surgeon, but first I had to see the nurses who were to take out my stitches, which was going to be a problem as I had already done it a few days before the appointment.  

Janice, the loud-mouth of the hens

This was quite eventful as apparently, I was 'unqualified' to take out my stitches myself and was reprimanded repeatedly: "YOU removed your stitches... Do you have a medical background? ("no...") and you felt qualified to remove your stitches? ("yes...").  It was almost comically funny hearing this young, young woman treating me like I was some rebellious teenager!  

I think I inappropriately chuckled at her tone with me!  I just couldn't help it, I don't think anyone has talked down to me like that in a long time!  Afterward, my doctor came in the room and everything was easy-peasy; no problems.  He was happy with how well my wounds were healing and released me from further treatment.

Christmas:

Between the two hand surgeries and all the upheaval with our country politically we still haven't gotten into our normal Christmas gear.  Usually, we start listening to Xmas music right after Thanksgiving (or before) and get our house all full of decorations; but not this year.  We still haven't put up any decorations. Dd has been going out shopping this week with her monies earned from her pizza shop job.  On Thursday I went to JC Penny and Kohl's and got all my shopping done for Dh and Dd.  I'd been collecting things for other's over the past months, but needed a few things more for those two.

Dd baked more Xmas cookies for her co-workers.

Flu:

Dh had the flu this week, starting Wednesday or Thursday.  It isn't shaking off, but dragging on and on!  

Dirt bathes in December is awesome!  I've collected buckets of dirt and have a big plastic tub in their inner coop filled with dirt so they can take their dirt bathes even when it's freezing outside they can enjoy their dirt beside their heat lamps!

Chickens:

Free-ranged the chickens a few times this week.  They are mostly doing well, only Bunny is under the weather---as she has been for about six months now.  I've been making them healthy snacks and scrambled eggs to help give them a little extra.

Henry On Duty

Surprise Xmas Gift:

Dd changed rooms this summer and left her old room in tatters.  I've been spending a little time in her old room each day trying to organize and tidy it up.  She doesn't normally go back in there and seems to be living fine without all those clothes, but I thought I would wash and organize those clothes anyway---this way she can really see what all she has and perhaps donate some of the items she has outgrown (physically or mentally).  I can't wait to show her on Christmas all the progress I've made!  As a teenager, I had so few clothes and she has the opposite problem, but we do shop at thrift stores so the cost is drastically less than if we shopped for new clothes.  The 'green' eco-friendly person that I am, loves giving clothes a second life!

Honeysuckle

Winter Solstice:

Saturday was Winter Solstice---from now on our days will slowly get longer again! Yay!

Agnes

Dd's Academic Week:

Bible:

Dd is doing her independent Bible Study, Church, and Youth Program

Dickens---named after Charles Dickens!

Read Aloud:

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

Math:

Algebra II (Saxon) with a tutor

Next Week:

Christmas!  I'm not even close to being ready, but I think it will come whether I'm ready or not!!!  We will also drive down to Indiana to attend Dh's family Xmas party.

Honeysuckle

........

Dec. 8-14, 2019 Headache Week, Dh Work Problems, Super Cold, Armoire In, Grace Co-op

Dec. 8-14, 2019 

Headache Week, Super Cold, Armoire, Grace Co-op

English Shepherds are so great for how they live harmoniously with other critters.  Henry's first night in our home was spent laying beside one of our cats!  On the first night!  He really is a very special dog.

Hello Friends!

This was a hard week!  I had surgery on my left hand last Wednesday and then this week was a full week of headaches and migraines.  I didn't make a lot of progress this week.

Home Schooling High School:

After having Thanksgiving break, Dd was back to her lessons again this week.  She is really liking all her classes again this year.  I'm really enjoying reading A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens to her most days.  We really struggled in the fall this year about her finding time for me to read to her, but now we have found a renewed balance in our relationship and have been able to get back to doing Read Alouds again.  I always felt like so much of my Emotional Intelligence came from reading really good literature and have pushed to keep that going.  I'm thankful our season of being out of step is improving and that she is open to literature again.  While we have struggled to do lessons at home, she has continued to thrive with her teachers at her co-op.  She is making great grades and it is all positive on that account.  Things are improving...finally!

Henry on Duty!  Such a great dog!!

Dh's Work:

It was a REALLY weird week for Dh.  One of the upper management people told him he was going to be moved under a different boss, in a different building...no warning, no discussion.  Boy, that was a stunning blow that nearly toppled our hearts.  I was really impressed with how Dh processed it though---he finally came down to the decision to keep moving forward no matter what they did.  These types of things usually crush us, but, he seemed to handle it well.  (In the end, the decision ended up getting rescinded but we didn't know that was how it was going to be during this week.)  You just never know what this world has in store for you but you can only keep moving forward with a good heart.  This has lead me to feel like I probably need to pray for guidance and look for a job.  Dh has carried all our financial responsibility for many years now and since Dd is needing me less perhaps I can find a way to contribute financially also.  Prayers appreciated that I would be guided into something special.

Armoire:

Back in May, I found a beautiful armoire at our local thrift store.  I thought I'd have Dh help me bring it into the bedroom and that would be the end of it.  He decided it needed shelves and two big drawers in the bottom...and a back put in.  Well, eight months later I have the armoire, shelves, drawers, and back in my bedroom!  It is finally all done and we got it in and across the new hardwood flooring without a scratch.  I had to take out my stitches in my left hand to help carry the piece of furniture in and up the stairs into our house, but it worked out.  If we move I think it just might have to stay here...boy, it is a big piece of furniture!  Thankful to my Dh who had to make it even better for me!

Bible Study:

I was able to drive myself to my Monday night church Bible Study, called "Thrive."  I have been able to do most things with my hand being all wrapped up from the carpal tunnel surgery.  I wasn't feeling up to going to my Bible Study Fellowship on Wednesday as my migraine was really bad that day.  Both of my studies are on the book of Acts and I have learned SO much!!!  Wow.

1) My "Thrive" or church Bible Study:

An Unexplainable Life: Recovering the Wonder and Devotion of the Early Church (Acts 1-12) by Erica Wiggenhorn

(In January we will move on to Erica's follow-up book:

 The Unexplainable Church: Reigniting the Mission of the Early Believers (Acts 13-28) )

2) Bible Study Fellowship 

This is an international organization that has all of us doing the same bible study all around the world!  Christians from all various forms of Christianity and branches all studying the Word in a united biblical way.  You can sign up and do the program online.  You can watch the videos and print out your own worksheets to do.  It makes it convenient if you have to miss a class due to snow or migraines!

https://www.bsfinternational.org/

Acts and Letters of the Apostles

Migraines/Headaches:

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday were all bad days. 

Chickens:

Everyone had a good week.  I have been working hard on getting the chickens good things to eat.  One thing I've been doing this fall is mixing in yogurt with our scraps to get some probiotics into their diet.  I was able to free-range them a few times this week, but they had at least 3 days where they had to stay cooped up due to the extra cold temps.

Super Cold:

Oi! We had a few days this week that was super cold.  I am so ready for spring...so are the chickens!  

Dd's Academic Week:

Bible:

Independent Bible Study, Church and Youth Program

Grace Co-op:

Science: Anatomy and Physiology by Apologia

History: American Civil War

Art: Painting Studio

English/Writing: Analytical Writing for Essays and Research Papers (IEW)

Math Tutor: Algebra II (Saxon)

Reader:

The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

Read Aloud:

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

Work/Job:

Loving working at the pizza shop 3x per week

Baking:

Dd baked a chocolate cake and Christmas cookies this week.  Unfortunately, all her baking included gluten so I was pretty much tortured all week!!!!  She took most of her cookies into work for them to enjoy, but the ones left on the counter were tormenting me!  She made Heather's 'Candy Cane' cookies.

Cooking:

Dd made a dinner dish for me this week---a casserole of sorts.  It was chicken, carrots, and potatoes layered and baked.  It was very tasty!  It had been months since she has made a dinner and I sure did appreciate the help!

Next Week:

I'm supposed to go back to my surgeon and get my stitches taken out of my left hand...but, I've already done that!  I'm curious how that is going to go over!!  Also, the Winter Solstice is next Saturday!  Then our sunshine will start increasing; which is just the best!

..............