Saturday, September 29, 2012

Sorry I'm not writing much this week. We got home last night at 7:38 PM. I remember the time because we left Canmore, Alberta at 7:38 AM. It took us exactly 12 hours to get home yesterday. We stopped for gas twice; stopped once at a rest stop, and even took an hour to eat at a local restaurant in Kamloops. We loved being away; doing what we wanted when we wanted to; no responsibilities, no concerns.

But we sure loved coming back home!!

Today I unpacked and did 4 loads of laundry; vacuumed the living room and took all the suitcases to the garage. When ever we go on vacation and stay in nice, neat hotel rooms, it inspires me to come home and declutter my house. I started working on that today too.

Chuck sat down and paid some bills. He took Beth bowling this afternoon and said that she got three spares in her first four throws!! But then she threw mostly gutter balls the rest of the time. :(

Then he, Beth and Diana did a weeks worth of grocery shopping. Took us a while to put everything away but it feels good to have food in the house again.

Oh, that reminds me. We all got on the scale today. Beth lost 5 pounds last week!! Woohoo! I didn't lose any. I didn't gain any either so I see that as a win! Chuck? He lost 10 pounds while we were on vacation!! Ten pounds!! He makes me sick.

We had such a great time in Canada. I took over 250 pictures. But don't worry, I'll just share one with you tonight. :) I took this at Quarry Lake. It's in Canmore, Alberta, about 1 mile from our condo. It's away from traffic and for a while, Chuck and I were the only ones there. For about 4-5 minutes, there was absolute silence. No cars, no birds chirping, no people, I don't remember the last time I sat outside in absolute silence. I walked around the lake and when I saw this view, I literally gasped. It brought tears to my eyes as I looked at the beauty our heavenly Father created and remembered His love for me.


Tuesday, September 25, 2012

"Where are you?"

We are still on vacation in Banff, Alberta, Canada. We've got just three more days before heading back home. It's been so relaxing; today it rained so we've spent all day inside. Reading, watching TV, listening to the thunder. It's been the perfect vacation. (Except that we miss the kids more than we thought we would!)

Almost every day Beth calls us, "Where are you? When are you coming home?"

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Comical

We finished at Chuck's mom and sister's house and said our goodbyes. I pushed his mom in her wheel chair from the restaurant back to the home and was reminded of my mom. I pushed her in a wheel chair a few years ago; we walked around the block and talked about life. It was the last time I saw her. She died exactly one month to the day we took our walk. I was thinking of that as I walked with Mary Ann and I started crying. It was hard to se eher like that, but we really did have a good visit.

We dropped the girls at the airport Friday morning. Beth has decided she doesn't like to fly. Diana is so good with her and helped her the entire way. (You can read Diana's account on her blog Such Falderol, on the right side of this blog.)



 Chuck and I then began our drive from Denver to Billings, Montana. We woke up in Billings this morning and tonight I'm writing this in our condo in Canmore, Alberta, Canada. 

The first thing we realized when we woke up this morning is that we left our phone charger in Billings. We stopped at the Verizon store in Shelby, Montana and bought a new one.

We laughed SO hard driving through the plains of Montana. Something on the radio had us laughing so hard we were crying!

Crossed over the border to Canada and were making good time! Then we got lost in Calgary. Supposed to take Highway 1 but they didn't always post signs! It seems we drove around in circles for about an hour before finally heading out of the city toward Canmore.

Diana called us. "I need to tell you what happened." She was getting home from work when she saw the fire truck and ambulances in front of our house. Seems a young guy was driving up the street and passed out. He hit our neighbors fence and another car and that car ran into our fence. We have some rounds of wood stacked against the fence and I guess that's what stopped the second car. Both drivers were taken to the hospital. Scary.

We got to the condo, unloaded luggage then headed back to downtown Canmore for groceries and some dinner. Got lost again. We finally found the street we were to be on and were stopped at a red light... when a train whistle blows. The bars go down and we wait. And wait. This is a transcontinental train and it's going s-l-o-w through the city. And we waited. 

It was then that we both burst out laughing. You know how it is if you don't laugh you'll cry?? Our windows were down because the weather is beautiful here!! People were driving by (we were waiting to turn left onto the street the train was on) and looking at us as we laughed and laughed!

What a day. What a long, crazy day!





This is a little town called Judith Springs. Judith... something.
This is the entire town. 
There was a post office. A small grocery store.
A few houses. Out in the middle of no where.
I sometimes wonder what it would be like to live in towns like this.





I loved the old barns and the rolling hills.



 

 





 The Canadian border at Coutts.




 This is downtown Calgary. I took this at 70 mph.
(I don't remember how fast that is in kilometers!)




 Just outside our condo.

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

We're In the Middle of Part One

Wow. Not even sure where to begin. I've been wanting to get on here for a few days and now that I am, I'm not even sure what to say.

Maybe it's because there's no stress. See, we're on vacation right now. It's sort of a two part vacation.

The first part is here in Denver, where we're visiting Chuck's mom and sister. His mom was moved into assisted living a few months ago and his sister is now living alone. She had a stroke a few years ago and is paralyzed on her right side. We're here just helping around the house, cleaning the carpets and just loving on them. To be honest, it's been hard to see them like this. They're both aging and their health is getting worse. Chuck's sister never married and has always lived with their mom, they've taken care of one another and always been there for each other. (Chuck's dad died about 50 years ago.) And now mom is in assisted living and it's been so hard for them. His sister is having to take care of the house by herself, with only one hand and barely able to walk. We'll do what we can but it's hard living so far away.

We drove to Colorado and going through Eastern Washington and Idaho we saw all the smoke from the wild fires. We didn't actually see the fires themselves and I'm wondering if they're out by now. Not much about them on the news here in Denver.

 



 
 This country is so beautiful! I love the scenery and the different landscapes. And I love seeing it by car!

 

 





Today we worked at the house, then met them for lunch at a Thai restaurant right across from the nursing home. The weather has been beautiful, thank goodness! Chuck's mom isn't able to get into a car so Chuck pushed her across the street in her wheel chair. She told us this afternoon that is was too traumatic for her. :(

We came back to the hotel and the girls went swimming again. They love to swim! We need to do this more often at home.


 




On Friday, our real vacation begins. The girls fly home and Chuck and I continue driving... to Banff!! We'll be spending a week celebrating our 30th Anniversary. Just the two of us, relaxing, reading, seeing Calgary, Banff and Lake Louise. 

We. Can't. Wait!

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Hoopla

This is gonna be short and sweet. There's been a lot going on but I'll write more later.

In the last few weeks there's been a company picnic, doctors appointments, a day at the fair, the prom, a tenure award and Special Olympics bowling.

The next couple of weeks - a short visit to see Chuck's mom and sister, another doctors appointment, the start of a small group and the Buddy Walk!!

For the first time ever, we're taking part in the Buddy Walk! We've been wanting to do it for years but it falls on a Sunday and we're usually volunteering that day. But this year, we got someone to cover for us, I'm so excited about doing it! Can't wait to see all those beautiful faces! We don't plan to have a team, we just want to be a part of it. Go there, see what it's like. Find out what all the hoopla is about. :)

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Personal Best

This was Beth's bowling score yesterday!! Her personal best!



Sunday, September 9, 2012

A Night She Will Never Forget

Beth was up early on Saturday. I was surprised to see her up so early until I remembered... tonight is the prom!

Chuck and I had a long meeting that morning so as soon as I got home I started curling her hair. Diana and Beth had already decided on a hair style, but Diana didn't get off work til 4:00 and we needed to leave by 5:15 so I thought I'd get started on the curls.

Beth seemed a little sad so I asked her what was wrong. She said that she wanted Diana to do her hair. I told her that Diana was going to style it, I was just helping her with the curls.

"Okay. Cause Diana does it better than you."

Gee thanks.

Diana got home, did her hair and we got her dressed. I must say, she looked beautiful! She wore a black and gold lace dress with a small black jacket over it.





We arrived at the venue (it was a dance studio) and they had wrist corsages for all the girls! There was live music and food and flowers and gorgeous girls and very handsome guys!

 

 


The theme was The Sky's The Limit and their table decorations were Chinese food containers with 4 straws and a balloon. Very creative!
 

 

At first, Beth, Diana and I stood in the back and just watched. I asked Beth if she wanted me to stay and she said yes. I asked her a few times, just to make sure. :) We asked her if C was there but she hadn't seen him. (Remember C is the guy she was hoping would ask her to the prom but he hadn't been bowling for the last few weeks.) Chuck and Diana left to run errands and I found a seat on the side of the dance floor. Beth sat on the same side, but at the other end of the room from me. She sat there and she watched. I watched her as people came up to talk and she just hung her head. I watched people come ask her to dance and she would say no.

 This is actually her reflection in a mirror. I spotted her between some posts and was able to keep watch without her knowing it. Sneaky I know. Are you taking notes? :)


I finally saw a guy dancing by himself and did a little match making. Lots of moms were out there, getting their kids to dance with others. Some of the moms were even out there dancing! It was fun! I saw M and asked him to ask Beth to dance. I went over and pulled Beth to her feet, she did NOT want to move!

 



M's caregiver came over to me and said they looked like such a cute couple. She hollered over to a friend, "M has a date!" I think she was as excited as I was that they were willing to hang out together. I also asked them if they wanted to get their picture taken. I took this while the professional photographer was setting up the shot. 



After the picture, Beth went over and sat back down in the corner. She sat there the rest of the evening and we left a few minutes before it ended. As we walked out she seemed kind of sad and I asked her what was wrong. "I don't wanna talk about it." Okay, fine.

We get in the car and Diana asks her how it went. Beth didn't respond. Diana asked if C was there.

"Yes."

We all chimed in, "He was??" "Beth why didn't you tell us?" "We wanted to meet him!" "Why didn't you point him out to us?"

It was at that point she burst into tears. "He was dancing with another girl!!!!"

I got out of the car and took her out. I hugged her as she cried. And cried. My heart was breaking for her and I cried too. 

That whole time she sat there, watching the love of her life dance with someone else. There was nothing I could really say right then so I just let her cry. I'm having a hard time holding back the tears even now. 

We stood there for a few minutes and she composed herself. We had planned to go out to dinner to celebrate her big evening and she said she still wanted to go out. After some root beer and pasta at Applebees she began to feel a little better.

After we got home I went downstairs to help her out of her dress. I told her I was sorry her evening didn't turn out like she planned but she still had a little fun, right? "You got to dance with M and get your picture taken and you enjoyed the punch and the fruit. And you have the cute corsage, right? Didn't you have a little fun tonight?"

She nodded and kind of smiled, "Maybe." 

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

"The Lab is Down the Hall and To Your Right"

Beth and I both had doctor's appointments today. We see the same doctor (we LOVE her!) My appt was at 12:00 and Beth's was at 12:15. We both went into the room together.

I'm having issues with my legs, it feels like my bones ache. Plus some lower back pain.

Beth is having bouts of incontinence and she needed lab work done for her upcoming appointment with her thyroid doctor. Beth did great sitting up on the table. A little nervous but not too bad.

She also had to pee in a cup, no easy task, let me tell ya!! But she did it.

Then we both headed to the lab. Beth said she wanted me to go first and as I sat down in the chair she says, "Try not to faint mom." Gee, thanks Beth. So I had the nurse lay the chair back. Just in case. :)

Beth was a rock. She sat in the chair and told her, "I don't like to look." The nurse laughed, "I don't either!"

I then went to get xrays where they took some pictures of my back.

Beth has a follow up appointment in October. I'm so glad we're finally getting these health issues taken care of.

On the way to the car, we took off our bandages and decided we were going for yogurt!

Sunday, September 2, 2012

You Would Have Loved It

We went shopping last night... and bought a prom dress!! We found it at Macy's and it was on sale! Woohoo! I love it when things are on sale.

I'm not going to show you the dress yet, you'll have to wait until after the prom. :)

Well, I've just spent the last 20 minutes trying to upload photos but it keeps telling me, Server Returned Invalid Response. I've tried editing the pictures, saving them, renaming them. To no avail. Sorry.

They were really cute too! After we paid for the dress we're walking out of the store and hear Allie say, "Take my picture!" She was holding the hand of a mannequin. So I did what any good Nana would do. I said, "Oh that's so cute!" and I took a picture.

We went to Red Robin for dinner and I took a couple of pictures there too. One was of Beth and Allie leaning over, sort of cheek to cheek. You would have loved it. Honest.