Tuesday Tid-Bits

Today has been a bit mixed up. Last night a parent called wanting to reschedule lessons for today so she could take another one of her children to the dr. this afternoon. That meant rearranging my day, but it worked out fine. Then I had another one call and cancel due to illness, so it's been a bit odd today. 

Our dog Gilmore is losing bladder control - we woke yesterday morning to him coming to get us, but peeing all over our bedroom floor, then he walked down the hall and into the living room all the while peeing away! We of course got him outside and cleaned it up, but when I did the floors it meant running the steam mop. I'm so glad we were able to put wood floors in this house! 

Yesterday I went down the hill to practice on the pipe organ. It is so nice to be able to do that once in a while now. David and I started work on our recital program, but I still don't know what I need to be practicing for certain. I have been very stressed about the whole thing all day today, not to mention he told me he's considering moving himself and his mother to Arizona! He had such a difficult winter this year that he's thinking of moving. I'm just in shock and I don't know what I will do without him involved in my music. 

Friday I tried a new exercise DVD. I think once I get past the initial problems I'm having it will be good, but my arms and shoulders were so tight when I started that I injured my rotator cuff on my left side. I was afraid I did some real serious damage because it hurt so badly, but after doing the ice/heat treatment and going to bed with an Ibuprofen I woke up Sunday morning feeling good enough to play the organ. I'm afraid to try it again until after I get someone to work on me. 

My son is still looking for work - he has a possibility, but he needs to learn a new computer program that his current computer is too old to run and without a job he can't afford to buy a new computer. SIGH. 

Daughter #2 arrived home safely from her backpacking trip and thank God He protected them when they had a close encounter with a big black bear!

Saturday I had the blessing of talking to my oldest and dearest friend on the phone for 3 1/2 hours! We've been friends since the first day of school when we were in the first grade! We don't get to talk often and she doesn't email much, but when we do get together it's like time has stood still...like we've never been apart. It's marvelous and I know how fortunate I am to have this rare kind of friendship. 

More snow is falling - we're due to get another 4-6 inches between now and tomorrow evening and it's possible we could get freezing rain as well. YUCK, YUCK, YUCK. It's only March, but I just can't take any more. 

Lots of things and people on my heart tonight...I'm feeling overwhelmed. I'm not sure how I'll spend my evening...I do wish I had someone to just sit down and talk with.

Here are a few cards I made recently. Most of you have probably already seen them on Facebook. I may work on some spring/Easter ideas tonight. 

Remember if you want to have a conversation to click the Notify Me box in the lower right hand corner of the comment area. If we can all remember to do this, it will be more like Multiply. 

Until next time my friends~

Broken Hearted

I've been MIA; it seems like for a long time...all of a sudden life got so busy as we prepare for the coming winter. Catching up on me, then I hope to catch up on you all tomorrow. 

We went out one evening and picked wild apples...probably too many and have been trying to get them turned into applesauce. I also made an apple crisp...SO YUMMY! We made our first batch of applesauce this week - it's such a big job.  We only did one batch so far - about 6 quarts I think it was and that was only half of one of four boxes! The next morning we ate French Toast made with homemade bread covered in homemade applesauce made with wild apples...no sugar added or needed! YUM!! Hubby is working on it again tonight and we have to keep this going nearly every night until it's done as the apples are already beginning to bruise. Hubby has also been "making wood" from some dead trees in the field across the street. We are supposed to get a delivery as well, but haven't seen the guy yet. I took some money out of savings and went into town to Walmart and the Co-op for pantry staples - laying things in for the winter. It won't be long now and I won't be able to make that trip. 

I went to a Stampin' Up party Saturday evening, I had hoped to do some networking for piano lessons, but just had a good time. Should our scrapbook store close, I will need to make this a source of supplies. 

Also Saturday night while I was away the neighbor girls came over asking for a safe-haven. All the kids in that family are adopted and one of the boys rages. The parents had a school meeting to attend and the kids (all junior high and above) were home alone. Isaiah got into a rage and the girls came here to stay until things calmed down. Hubby said one of the girls looked as though she had been hit in the face, they didn't seem to want to talk about it, so he didn't press them for information. One of the girls is my piano student and I told both her and her parents if they ever needed anything that we were here for them. It was nice to see they felt they could take us up on that offer when it became necessary. 

All conversations at church Sunday turned to the arrival of the organ and the placement of the speakers and how it's all going to get accomplished. 

Our pastor wants to institute small groups at our church and there are many that are against it. I can understand some of their concerns such as the demands of being hostess, an empty church for visitors because everyone is in homes, lack of qualified leadership, tendency to become cliques, etc. I also see it could be a positive, so I guess I'm on the fence on this one and will follow along and see where it leads.

Gilmore, our other big dog must have gotten into something that made him sick - he wouldn't eat or drink and would have episodes of rather violent shakes. We thought we were going to lose him, but last he is now back to his normal self. 

I found out via Facebook that a dear, dear friend of mine has been diagnosed with cancer. My heart is breaking. He was my piano professor in college - a very talented, loving, caring, very patient man. He taught me SO MUCH! Yes, that's him and me in his office at WBC. He's listening to me intently and preparing to share his wisdom and encouragement. 

He played the piano and the organ at our wedding and he was also the pianist for our college choir and so went with us on our tours every spring. He was so much fun to be around! He makes his living as church organist, choir director, teacher and piano tuner. He also now enjoys skating as well from the looks of Facebook, he's still involved in the lives of young people!  I couldn't even get the words out to tell Hubby, I had to give him the computer to read it for himself. He said on Facebook that it started in his lungs and is in

multiple places already, yet, he sounds positive and is planning a party for when he is declared cancer free. His wife is wonderful as well and they have always been so much in love. I remember seeing the way she would look at him - precious. He has been constantly in my thoughts and on my heart this week.  My mom loved him! He'd start playing piano and I swear she would literally swoon LOL. We used to take her to the Missions and Founder's Day Banquets the college put on each year because Gordon would play the dinner music. She got the chance to get all dressed up and sit and listen to him play all evening - she loved it. I am so blessed to have his influence in my life. I can't tell you what an impact he had on me and continues to this day! Maybe I'm being selfish, but it's just too early for this talented, loving, giving, caring man to leave this earth. Please, please pray for Gordon Page, his wife, Sharon and their son, Evan. Thank you. 

I LOVE THIS MAN!!