Jan. 13-19, 2019 Flu Week Two, Kondo, Fall

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.

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!

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!

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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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