A Whirlwind Trip

Hi everyone,

How was your Christmas? Your New Year celebration? Chuck and I have been so congested we didn't celebrate New Years this year. The first time that I can remember. 

But we're feeling better now and I feel like I can finally take a deep breath. What a whirlwind few weeks we've had.

We flew out on the 17th, took a red-eye into Newark, NJ and went right to the hotel to sleep. A few hours later Chuck went back to the airport to pick up Sharaya and Ally (Sharaya didn't find out her days off until the last minute and we had already bought our tickets) and that started ten days of celebrating three birthdays and an Italian Christmas!

Adelaide turned three this year and she helped make and decorate her own cake. That was the first big thing we did after arriving.

They got about 5 inches of snow just a few days before we arrived, then got an inch or so after we got there. It was cold and sometimes icy but we were willing to brave the elements to spend time together. 

We spent one day at an outdoor market. Got some coffee and hot chocolate to carry around with us then enjoyed all the shops. 

The sign outside this art gallery read, "More than just Thomas Kincade" and they were right. She was so excited to see all the Disney art! Rooms and rooms of art, scenes from Paris, London, art from Monet and van Gogh. We could have spent a lot more time in here. 

A lot of our time was spent playing games, hanging out, we went out to eat a couple of times, and we got to snuggle with Adelaide and Oliver. We couldn't get enough of those two.

Diana and Peter's birthdays are just a few days apart and are close to Christmas so just before we left we celebrated them together. I want to say, Peter is such a good man and treats our daughter well. We're so grateful for him.

There's so much more but I'll share that next time. We caught colds a few days before we flew home and we're not not 100% yet. 

I hope you're all doing well. I head back to work on Monday and I plan to read your posts soon. Happy New Year!

Christmas Preparations

I'm sorry I haven't been posting, or commenting on your posts. We leave soon for Pennsylvania and we've been packing and getting ready. I do hope you all are well.

Last Sunday was the Christmas Concert at church. The Lord has blessed us with phenomenal talent and this production is always packed. This year included the choir and orchestra, drama, narration, and a live nativity. It was really powerful and reminded us of the great sacrifice Christ made in coming to earth.

We had our office staff Christmas Party today. There's a raffle for gifts that each department brings, we play games and sing Christmas songs. It's always so fun and the food is amazing.

This was just the appetizer table

Lunch was ham, scalloped potatoes and veggies

I may not be on here for a while as we finish preparations for our trip. I cannot wait to see everyone, especially those little grandkids. Adelaide turned 3 today and recently wrote her first word by herself: Nana. 💕

From our family to yours, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 

The angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

We pray you experience the deep, personal love Christ has for you, as we celebrate His birth. 

Parent Fail

Hello,

We're in the middle of an 'Atmospheric River.' A constant flow of rain coming all the way from the middle of the Pacific. The forecaster said it started almost near Japan. So we're expecting heavy rain for quite a few days which usually leads to river flooding, down trees and power outages. Thankfully we're not in a flood zone and even though we're surrounded by huge evergreen trees, we've never had one fall. Only by God's grace.

December 2022

Beth and I were sitting at the table last week waiting for her bus. We waited and waited but it never came.

Come to find out her eligibility had expired. Every few years we get a large packet in the mail of paperwork to fill out but I guess this year they just sent a small postcard reminder. 

Our fault, we somehow just missed it.

So she's at the table, ready and waiting and I had to tell her she couldn't go. Karaoke day. (I thought about driving her myself but at that time of morning it would have taken an hour or more to get there and I would have had to take the day off work.) I apologized and told her what happened. She just sat there. I apologized again and asked her if I could give her a hug. She nodded. After a couple minutes she picked up her backpack and jacket went back downstairs. I felt horrible!

Plus, she's needed a new phone case so we looked at new cases on-line and she found one of her favorite designs! Chuck ordered it and told her it would be delivered the next day. That was the day her bus never came.

I came home from work and saw the package on the porch. When I brought it to her she was so excited! She opened it and pulled out the new protective covers for my phone and that was it. I asked her if there was anything else in there and she said no. It hadn't come! 😭 She just put the package on the table and went downstairs. She was so sad! Twice in one day! I felt so bad!

We did get an email explaining why the package was late, but I'm not sure it helped.

Well, it's been a week now and we've worked out a plan with DART. We need to get the paperwork done (including a letter from her doctor verifying she is unable to use regular public transportation) by the end of the year and they will continue to pick her up until then. Whew! 

And, her phone case arrived the next day.

All is well again.

Last night she and I made some chocolate chip cookies. She helps with the brown sugar, eggs and mixing. Then she puts some cookies on the tray. 

She's never mastered using an oven, or the stove either. She doesn't like turning the gas burners on but will stir something that is already cooking. She does like to cook, but only with help.

That's about all for now. I hope you have a great week!

The Last Couple of Weeks

Hi friends,

It's been a while. I pray you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I had every intention of getting on here before Thanksgiving but it just never happened.

We got the results from Beth's biopsies, and they were exactly what we were expecting: Scarring Alopecia, or Lichen Planopilaris. The doctor wants to start cortisone injections and will monitor it closely for side effects. If the alopecia is still spreading after the second injection, they'll stop them and reevaluate the treatment plan.

The Sunday before Thanksgiving we began preparing for the biggest event of the year at our church. (It actually began months ago with leaders meetings, building walk-throughs, creating room set up diagrams...) We feed the community a full meal - family style - and after the first group heads home, we reset the tables and do it all again. Then again. At the end of the day we served over 1000 guests, and 500 volunteers.

The dining room ready for guests

Busser/Server stations in all four corners 

Chuck was a table host for two of the seatings, serving the food and initiating conversation.

This was on our church's website

Out in the main foyer we offer family photos, a reception area with snacks, puzzles and games while the guests wait to go to the dining room, we have a clothing bank, and everything is free. 

Being in the custodial department, we spent a few days setting up all the tables and chairs in every area, and we're one of the first groups to arrive Thanksgiving day and the last to leave: unlocking the building, providing coffee for the guests and the volunteers, cleaning bathrooms, emptying trash, wiping up spills, then all the clean up afterward. Monday - Thursday I put in 24 miles. 

On Friday Sharaya and Ally came over and we had our family Thanksgiving. All the usual food, plus ice box pie for dessert. After dinner we played Mexican Train, and video chatted with Diana, Peter, and the kids. It did my heart good to be with family.

The rest of the weekend I spent in my recliner. 😊

Like the rest of you, we're now preparing for Christmas. We'll be in Pennsylvania this year and are planning a day in New York, plus Christmas traditions with Diana's family. 

This morning I removed the garden hoses and covered the outside faucets; I did a load of laundry; I have a stye under my left eyelid that's been bugging me; Allison turns 16 tomorrow; and Beth wants me to take her shopping today. 

Sorry, this doesn't feel like a fun post. Maybe it just seems that way in my head. I think I'm still worn out from the Thanksgiving Outreach so I may go sit in my recliner for a little while. 

I pray you all had an amazing Thanksgiving.

Biopsies

Last Tuesday we took Beth to the dermatologist for two biopsies on her scalp. She's been on a topical medication for the scarring alopecia but it's gotten worse.

I made the appointment more than two months ago but we told Beth about it the day before. We didn't know how she would take it and didn't want her nervous for days leading up to it.

Chuck had two punch biopsies when he was going through treatment for melanoma so he explained to her exactly what would happen, and took the day off to come with us.

The morning of the appointment I believe the Holy Spirit told me to call them about a chair. When Chuck had his done he was just sitting on the table in the exam room. Beth does not like those because they're so high off the ground and there's nothing to support her and nothing to hang onto. 

So I called and asked if there was any way they could do the procedure while she sat in a chair. They put me on hold, then came back and said they absolutely could do that, and it wouldn't be a problem. I was so relieved!

When we walked into the room, there was - like a dentist chair in the middle of the room! 

It was perfect for her! They even put her feet up to really make her comfortable! They gave her the numbing medication, then got right to work. Did two biopsies and were done in less than 10 minutes. 

One thing I've learned to do when Beth is at the doctor is to watch her hands. If she's gripping the arm rest or her hands are in a fist, I know she's in pain or is really scared.

Doing the actual biopsy

Putting in the stitches

She was so chill. Even the doctor said, "You didn't even flinch! You're the first one today who didn't flinch!"

I'll add a picture of her scalp but I'll leave it small. Although the spots are pretty tiny. You can always click on it if you'd like.

So now we wait for the results. There's no cure, it will just tell us the best treatment to keep it from spreading anymore and to make sure there's nothing else going on with her scalp. 

Our Days Have Been Full

 Good evening friends,

I'm writing this on Monday night, although when I was getting on the laptop almost 30 minutes ago, I uploaded some photos, then noticed the desktop was cluttered with documents and so I started organizing those... and now my sister is calling from San Diego. 

Okay, so now it's Tuesday afternoon. Chuck is at a doctor's appointment and Beth is down in her place watching TV. We've been so busy lately. All good things, but just really full days.

Chuck and I took a drive over the weekend, headed east over the 520 floating bridge and into Bellevue, Redmond and Issaquah. It was nice to get away for a few, just us. Mount Rainier was out in all her glory, so close it felt like you could reach out and touch it.

This is a picture of one of the bridges (Seattle has two floating bridges) that I took a few years ago flying into SEA Airport. The bridge is on pontoons that float in the somewhat shallow water.

Mount Rainier from the bridge

We've been video chatting with Diana and the kids. Adelaide was helping her make chocolate chip cookies.

Beth had a doctor's appointment and needed to get some lab work done so they could check her thyroid.

And Christmas. I am so ready to decorate for Christmas! The other night I fixed some hot chocolate with whipped cream and watched a Christmas movie. I don't know, it just felt right!

Chuck should be home soon from his appointment so I need to get ready to go to our storage unit. We're putting away my greeting card/market displays and bringing back Christmas decorations! We usually wait until after Thanksgiving but for some reason this year, I want to decorate now. Do you usually wait for a certain day to decorate?

Enjoy the rest of your week! 

Mysterious Moving Magnets

Hello Friends!

I really do consider you friends. I think about you during the week and wonder how you're doing. I wish I could just travel the country and visit each one of you, stopping for coffee, conversation, and a big hug. I hope you're doing well.

I forgot to tell you I took Beth to the bowling alley last week to pick up her bag. She absolutely loves it! It's hard to be the only one without, and now she has the same type of bag as all her friends.

Okay, onto the story behind the title.

I like to collect refrigerator magnets. The rectangle ones are good, I've purchased some of those, but my favorites are the unique ones. Even our girls will sometimes bring one back when they've been traveling.

These tell the story of our lives. Places we've visited, adventures we've had. Sometimes when I'm waiting for the tea kettle to get hot I'll just look them over and reminisce about how we've had such a good life. And I've experienced many things others have just dreamed about.

These are just a few:

One day I come out to the kitchen and notice one or two of the magnets are missing. I can tell there are empty spaces where they used to be. Interesting. So I move them around a little to fill in the spaces and go about my day. 

A week or two later, same thing. Empty spaces. This went on for a while. And I notice the side of the fridge is becoming full. 'What in the world? How did they get over here?' And I'd put them back on the front. 

Then one day I see Beth taking them off the front of the fridge. When I asked her why she was moving them to the side she said it was too busy. "You have too many magnets." 😄