WHOOOSH!!

Another holiday come and gone and this year was a bit weird due to the fact we celebrated with our traditional Thanksgiving dinner on Saturday instead of Thursday because the newly weds couldn't get here until Friday night due to their work schedules. They arrived around supper time on Friday and we enjoyed a meal together and spent the evening catching up and watching movies on Netflix. 

Saturday we lingered over breakfast but not too long because Hubby had games to ref in the afternoon so we needed to start eating by 12:30 or 1. I can't remember the actual time we got everything on the table, but we got him out the door on time. 

I made our traditional turkey dinner with mashed potatoes and gravy with garden carrots, beets and rutabaga and oatmeal pie for dessert. DIL is a vegetarian, so they brought their own "meat" and gravy and she made a very good stuffing. 

Son did a couple of chores around the house for me on Saturday afternoon and they joined us for church on Sunday and left after lunch. I was so busy I didn't get a single picture and DIL was complaining as they were packing that she didn't get any pictures either. 

It's been so cold today...we had a high of 7 with a windchill that brought the temps down into negative digits. I went to the church to practice and froze! The temperature in the sanctuary is kept at 50 degrees during the week and normally I can use my little heater to make things comfortable enough for me at the organ, but today it just couldn't keep up. I kept my practice time to just the most urgent. I'm hoping things will warm up later in the week. I haven't been able to get warm since I got home, I must have gotten quite a chill today so I'm sitting downstairs by the fire just relaxing a bit this evening. 

Tomorrow I hope to finish the cleaning that I didn't quite finish today and get my Christmas decorations up...all except for the tree that Hubby and Daughter #2 will go shopping for later in the week. I will be happy to not have to go out again.

Son asked for his box of ornaments before they left. He sorted through them and left a few here but took the majority of them with him to hang on their tree. I must admit, it was bitter sweet watching him sort and ask questions about where some of them came from. He left the one I made for his first Christmas and one his Gran made for him. He said those real special ones should stay here for a while longer. He did take the stuffed reindeer that I had peeking out of his stocking on his first Christmas...kinda tough to watch that cutie leave. It's so weird...I want our kids to grow up and make homes and traditions of their own because it's the right thing for them, but at the same time it's so hard. 

I do believe my Christmas shopping is done - I just have to get things wrapped. Since we started drawing names it makes short work of the shopping and I'm not complaining. 

Thirty-Two Years Ago

Thirty - Two years ago I married the most wonderful of men! Our life has had it's up and downs, but I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. He shows his love for me in so many ways, the most recent was the new organ at church. If it wasn't for him supporting me and standing by me I would have a brand new electric keyboard to play instead. If it wasn't for him searching the internet for three years, doing tons of research on organs, speakers, placement, etc., etc., it wouldn't even be here because no one else would have done any of that. He organized committees, sent emails, made phone calls...the list is endless and I'm sure he did things I don't even know about! In the last 32 years he has never and i mean never, ever no matter what else was going on in his life or the business or anything...he never has forgotten my birthday, our anniversary, Valentine's Day or even Mother's Day! As you know our financial picture right now is not a good one, but several weeks ago I noticed a $100.00 bill in his dresser drawer. I wondered about it, but didn't ask. I check for it periodically, it hasn't been moved. Yesterday I found out he tucked it away just to take me out to dinner tonight! I told him not to waste money on flowers this year...he loves to buy me a bouquet of red roses (I carried red roses on my wedding day) but last night he brought me a single red rose and said "my bride has to have her flower."

I made him a card last night and I ordered him a new music stand for his music. It's a surprise! He has always been so hard to buy for that I was really excited to see him struggle with his flimsy music stand while trying to practice his euphonium...I knew exactly what he needed! 

This week I finished making 15 thank you cards to send to everyone that had anything to do with getting the organ here and installed: 

I had fun making the "thanks so much" look like another stop on the organ! 

Yesterday morning was a check-up chiropractic appt., she made several more adjustments, but mostly all is well, just some continued healing needed. I taught from 1:30-5:00...the last little girl dragged herself in not looking well. I kept the lesson simple and as short as I could. I put my hand on her back at one point and her whole body felt warm. I told her mom I think she was running a fever. She apologized for sending her ill, but thought she was just tired. It happens when working with children, but I washed the piano keys down with disinfectant. 

My weight is a big concern again...I want to look good sitting on the organ bench for our recital!! I bought a pretty new top to wear...it sparkles ;). I have successfully made it through the first two days of my health/weight loss discipline. I got in my exercise and with no cheats on my eating!! Tonight will be a challenge going out to eat, but I will do all I can to stay on track.

I was a bad girl yesterday! I bought myself a present...well...three...make that four. A local store has been selling Magnabilities, I could go in periodically and buy a new one for my setting and for only $4.00 I could treat myself with something new. When Son and I went in there on Friday, they seem to no longer be carrying them. I got on the website last night "just to look around" and discovered I can make my own with my own photo! I have one necklace and several of the interchangeable magnets, but...MAKE MY OWN?? LET THE FUN BEGIN! I uploaded three favorite photos and had fun making it fit the circle just right...another click or two and...they're on the way and I'm like a teenager, I'm so excited! These are the photos I chose:

This is the pendant I chose for them along with a black ball chain. I'll be able to wear three of my best friends around my neck!

Today I'll be heading back to the church to practice...at least I hope so. They are predicting nasty weather to come our way including rain turning to ice!! I'm not a happy camper and I certainly don't want to be out driving in that, even in town, so I'll have to make an assessment after lunch.  

Here are some random photos of Thanksgiving weekend:

I've been here too long today...gotta run! 

Thanksgiving Weekend

My Thanksgiving was good, though very painful. My son came up (he's taking care of his girlfriend's dog, Simba while she's out of town, so he came too) and of course Daughter #2 was here. Daughter #3 and her Hubby couldn't make it, but plan to be here for Christmas. Last Sunday my back went out, well, I went to the chiropractor on Wednesday and I was WAY OUT! She put me back in, but the muscles on one side were almost like they were sprained. She said I could even have some micro- tears in it and it would be several days before I felt relief and she was right. She told me walking would be fine, but no lifting. Sooooo the bad thing was every time I moved I was in pain...shoot I was in pain constantly, no matter what I did so cooking dinner was so hard! The good thing was I got much more help than I normally do...too bad I had to be laid up before that happened. Daughter made two pies and two cheese spreads and set the table. Hubby and Son helped with moving the turkey in and out of the oven and they both also helped clean up dishes after. It was hard to relax though no matter what I did. It still hurts, but it's much better. I just hope I can get back to my workouts this week. Even after all that, I'm so thankful for so much in my life, it would take volumes to list it all. 

Our houseguest,Simba afforded us lots of laughs, he sure is full of energy! He is a two year old Golden Retriever and poor old Gil at age 15 had a tough time keeping up. I'm trying to upload a video, but Blogger is just not cooperating!

While the turkey was cooking Son wanted me to show him the new organ, so we went to the church and I played for him. He and Daughter took video of me, but they have yet to send them to me. It made me so happy that he was interested enough and cared enough about me and what was important to me to ask to hear me play! That's so rare in my life these days. He said he liked it and said he was so happy for me.

Friday Daughter had to work so Son and I went downtown shopping. It wasn't too bad because most people were up the hill in Shop-Ko and Walmart. I bought myself a metronome for the organ and a new belt. My Christmas shopping is already done. Son was happy to find his girlfriend's Christmas gift. We had lunch with Daughter after she got off work, then spent the rest of the day/evening watching Castle and relaxing. Saturday I took some time to go practice and the rest of the day was more Castle...I got Son hooked  hee hee. He started watching them online and trying to catch up, so I was happy to help him LOL! 

Church went well today and Son got to hear me play again and sing with the new organ. We went out to dinner at a local Mexican place we all enjoy and when we got home he had to pack up and leave. Daughter is out with friends and Hubby is reffing a game. The house is so quiet now. I should be cleaning and taking down my fall decorations and preparing for Christmas, but I'm just not in the mood. It just doesn't seem like it's possible that's it's the Christmas season! My "to-do" list is so long and I just want some time to take care of personal things. 

Happy Thanksgiving

Nov 24, '11 10:00 PM for Julie's contacts

Last Saturday I helped our new associate pastor's wife host a scrapbook event at our church with the goal of getting to know some of the women in the community. It was a success for the first attempt and considering there were all kinds of craft sales and other events going on that day. We had about 10 women actually participate and several people come in and check it out to see what it was all about. One of the jobs I was given was to make a bulletin board of tips for those new to the craft.

Our associate pastor's wife had asked me to make cookies and I had to decline because my oven and given up. The stove top still worked and I was getting by with my crock-pot. Anyway, she told her husband, who decided no one should be without a working oven so he went to the deacon board who had been sitting on some money for awhile. He believes that money in the church should be used and so he approached them with the idea of buying us a new stove! They agreed to $450.00 toward a new one and when he handed Hubby the envelope with the check in it, there was an extra $50.00 that we are sure came from the assoc. pastor and his wife. We got a great deal by getting in early on the black Friday sale at Sears. Retail the stove was nearly $1000.00 and when it was all done we bought it for $700.00 - so only $200. out of pocket. Such a blessing to have a near top of the line appliance! I never would have dreamed we could have something so nice. It is black and stainless steel and is self-cleaning and has a 5th oblong burner in the middle. It also has 4 burners all of different sizes, tow of them are power burners of different sizes and one is a simmer burner. I made whole-wheat cranberry pancakes on the oblong 5th center burner and pumpkin pie, oatmeal pie cranberry bread and turkey breast in the oven.

I've been healing up from a shoulder/upper back injury - it's a mystery as most of my ailments seem to be. I just woke up one Sunday morning a couple of weeks ago unable to move my neck or arm. It's getting better thanks to my chiropractor, however I'm supposed to go back for another appointment, but I can't afford it right now. Maybe in a week or two I can get another check up.

 

Good news! I have 2 new students that started this week. They are two sisters that are home-schooled. They are sweet, polite and intelligent young ladies and I'm so excited to be working with them.

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. Despite our struggles this year we are so blessed.