Chock Full

We've had a very busy week. I kept meaning to post but by the time the days ended I was too tired!

 

Chuck and I went to a Mariner's Game. Diana and I took Poppy for a walk down by the waterfront. There were two doctor's appointments, and two salon appointments. Chuck and I went to a Business Meeting. We had new gutters put on the house. I took Ally to school one morning. And Xfinity did some work in our area so we had spotty internet for a few days. No wonder I didn't get on here this week!

 

Poppy loves to go to new places, she just hates riding in the car. We wonder if she gets motion sickness? Not sure, but she does okay as long as she can look out the front window!

 

 

Then we took her to the pet store so she could pick out some treats. I played with her out in the backyard, then came in and needed to go downstairs to talk to Beth. When I came out of Beth's apartment she was at the top of the stairs. I guess she wasn't finished playing!

 

 I took Beth to a salon for the first time. We've always just gone to Supercuts and they've been okay but now we're going to a real hair salon! Shampoo, scalp massage... We didn't know what we'd been missing!

 

 We're s-l-o-w-l-y updating the outside of our house. We put on a new roof a few years ago and got a color that would match the house, once we get it painted. Last week we got new gutters put on that will be the trim color of the house... once we get it painted. We met with a painter friend last week but he's so busy (we're not the only ones?!) he can't get to it until next Spring. So... the house doesn't look great. Yet! But we're getting there.

 

And I realize I haven't taken a picture of the house with the new gutters!

 

I took Ally to school the other day. Middle school. The few times I took her in grade school we'd sit in the car and talk until it was time to go inside. I told her we'd be early so we'd have to wait in the car and she said, "No. Everyone just waits outside." It was surreal watching her walk away from the car.

 

Preschool Graduation... and... now 😭

 

 Fall is definitely here! Trees are changing color, temps are dropping. I will admit, I'm starting to get excited about it all!

We're All Glad This Weekend Is Over

On Monday Chuck tripped and fell while at work and has been home all week with a sore foot. (X-rays showed no broken bones, thank goodness!) Thursday I was up early to take Allie to school.

Friday I visited a friends farm and wedding venue. They've just recently moved there and it was fun to get the grand tour! T is such a gracious hostess. One week before the wedding season begins, she had us all up to her house for lunch! Thank you C for letting me ride with you!

Spent Saturday afternoon making hors d'oeuvres for a Volunteer Appreciation event. Then spent 30 minutes at home before going back that evening for the actual event. This is just some of the food we had and all of it was delicious!

(Not my photo)

 Our church couldn't do all the things it does, Food and Clothing Bank, neighborhood outreaches, Children's church, VBA, homeless ministry... without the help of hundreds of volunteers. So once a year we hold a huge party for them! We treat them like royalty and just love on them for the evening. It's a great way to give back to those who give so much to others.

(Not my photos)

 

A, me, Beth and Kathy

 The last couple of weeks have been busy at work as I planned for our Business Meeting (which was today.) I'm the event planner and there is so much work to be done to pull off this event. I ran out of cloth napkins so I couldn't put any under the centerpieces. Oh well, nobody noticed. :)  It's fun to do but I'm always glad when it's over. Especially when it falls on a weekend like this one!

Beth 's boyfriend has been on vacation with his family all week and she hasn't seen him in over 11 days! He got home today. :) He sent her a postcard and you should have seen the smile on her face when she read it! He really lights up her world! Then today she said he texted her and told her he was going to kiss her when he sees her on Tuesday. Ooooh! :)

 We're all so thankful for the start of a new week!

I hope you all have a great one!

Last Day

It's just been a busy week.

Tuesday was Chuck's last day at Centurylink. After 19 years. I picked him up around noon and we went to lunch to mark the occasion. I asked him how he was doing and he said, "I'm really doing okay. Now on to the next thing." I wish I handled change as easily as he does.

Wednesday I filled in for a friend at work. It's a different position from my own and it was really fun to sit in her chair for the day! While I was there, Diana drove Chuck down to Starline and he left for Oregon with 20 other drivers. (He's driven part time for them for a couple years now.) They dead-headed down to Eugene, spent the night, then spent Thursday shuttling fans back and forth to the Ducks football game. They spent the night in Salem last night, then drove home today. The Ducks lost to Arizona. :(

Allie helped me a little at work today - I just had a few things to finish from the week - then we went to the park. The weather this week has been surprisingly good! Sunny skies and warm temps. We saw H at the park and her daughter L is in Allie's class in preschool. The two of them played while H and I caught up, we hadn't seen each other in a while. About the time we got home, Chuck texted me to say he was almost back to the yard. Allie and I hopped back in the car and - after spending more than an hour in traffic, oh happy day! - we arrived at Starline. It was SO good to see him again! He was only gone for three days but I sure missed him.

Now for the next 7 days we have our Special Connections class, Special Olympics bowling practice, two birthdays and I'm hoping to attend a forum on aging for people with Ds. I'll write when I can!

Overwhelmed... and Trying to Remember to Breathe

I've been thinking about this blog for the last week. I know I've needed to write and I've wondered about what to write. I started this blog as a way to help parents of kids who have Down Syndrome. My daughter is grown and...

See, even that, I just want to erase it. My mind has been jumbled lately and I've had a hard time focusing. I wrote a great post in my head the other day, while laying in bed. Then I fell asleep for the night and when I woke up... it was gone. It was relevant, current, exactly what many moms and dads are going through right now... and at the time I remember thinking it was the perfect post but do you think I can remember now, what it was about? Not even a little.

Chuck is losing his job in a few weeks. The company he's been with for 19 years is closing his department and he'll be out of work by the end of the month. He's been applying for jobs and going on interviews but hasn't received any offers yet. I know this hasn't taken God by surprise. Every day of our lives have been written by the Lord, but it took us by surprise and it's been hard not to freak out. When I let myself really think about it, I start to panic so I have to always keep in mind that God is in control and He has a plan for us.

Part of my job is event planning for our business meetings. These events are full time in themselves but I still have to make time to do my regular job. Today was our business meeting (we have 3 a year) and this week has been so stressful for me. Our linen order was never delivered so I went in on my day off and spent a couple of hours on the phone with the linen service company. Come to find out, we did put in an order, but their rep is on an extended leave and never told us, so our order has been sitting in her inbox. Thankfully the linens arrived in time. Plus the attendance exploded this time and instead of setting the room for 85, we had to prepare for 190. Just a little stressful to say the least.

Our Special Connections ministry hasn't been going as I hoped. The Lord is showing me things I need to be doing differently and I've been in a lot of prayer over that. So many additional things that I really don't think I can do. But He reminds me that it's not me doing it, it's Him working through me. We are His hands and feet and if I truly believe that, I have to let Him do His work, using me where He needs me. He will sustain me and strengthen me when I need it.

For 2 years now, Chuck has been working two jobs so I'm doing 99% of the work around the house. Cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping, laundry, yard work... it's become so exhausting. Day in and day out. And Chuck, some days he leaves here at 6 AM and doesn't get home until midnight. Only to be up and gone the next morning at 6:00. This last stint, he worked 13 days straight. (In fact, he's at work right now, while I type this!) So by the time he does get an evening off, he's thoroughly worn out. His second job is very part time and even if he goes to work there full time, it won't even begin to make up for the money he makes at his main job. And because he is working part time there, we're not sure he can get unemployment.

I'm trying to be careful and not get so busy that I burn out. I know too many people that can't say no and it really begins to change them. You can become bitter and angry by always saying yes so I'm truly cautious of that. I've never been one to over do it, but lately we seem to be getting so busy. Some days it seems the stress level is through the roof.

I'm trying to remember to breathe. And to stop and smell the flowers. To really take the time to enjoy what the Lord has given us. Our home, our family and friends. We really are blessed. When I think of what others are going through, single moms, women whose husbands are gone weeks at a time, kids in and out of the hospital, I know my life isn't that difficult.

But sometimes we get so caught up in our circumstances, it's hard to see the blessings.

Dumping

I'm sorry. I know this blog has been completely neglected lately. Things have been, well, unusually busy. For us anyway. We're typically not your average busy family with therapy appointments and school plays and soccer practice and IEP meetings... but lately it seems life is just dumping on us. Not necessarily all bad just... full.

We had a change of plans this week due to our son-in-law ending up in the ER. He's back home and doing okay. Not out of the woods yet though.

Our church hosted and we volunteered at a pastors conference on Thursday and Friday where Anne Graham Lotz (Billy Graham's daughter) spoke about the need to wake up the church. Thursday we had over 3000 people attend, a lot more than we were expecting! A good problem to have but we were exhausted by the end of the night. We had to be back very early the next morning and when you factor in the 45 minute drive each way, it didn't leave much time for sleep! A lot of pastors re-dedicated their lives to the work of Christ and many of them spent quite a while in the altar, praying and seeking the Lord. It was truly an amazing two days that changed the lives and hearts of many. God is so good.

The good news: our Sunday school class is going well.
The bad news: our Sunday school class is going well.

We often have 6-8 kids in class each week and as thankful as I am to serve these families, we've been doing it now for more than 3 years without a break. It's getting to the point where I barely pick up my feet when we leave. I'm so, so tired and basically drag myself out to the car. Even today, I'm embarrassed to admit this but I thought I smelled smoke during the first service and my thought was, 'Maybe if we hear the fire alarm, we won't have to teach Sunday school!' Yea, not good. I definitely need a break. There are two other teachers who have stepped forward to volunteer and I'M SO GRATEFUL!! They've been helping in the class for the last few weeks, getting to the know kids and the routine.

This week is just beginning and it's going to be busy as well. I'll really try to post more next week.

I know, I think I said that last week...

Let Me Introduce Myself

You might not remember me because it's been so long since I last wrote!! I'm sorry!!

This has been a crazy two weeks. We've been out almost every single night with meetings and errands. I"m still getting used to my new hours at work. Plus they'll be changing again in a couple weeks.

Our small group has started up again so we're out every Wednesday, usually til around 9:30.

We celebrated Chuck's birthday on Thursday. My hubby is 55! Our friends keep telling us about all the great discounts out there that are available to those who are 55 and over. We're definitely looking forward to this!! I secretly took cupcakes to our small group host home before the meeting started, then we surprised Chuck with a little impromptu singing.

Thursday Ryan and Sharaya came over for dinner, then gifts and pie. Chuck isn't a big fan of cake so every year I buy a lemon meringue pie. His favorite! And there were cupcakes left over from our small group so there was a lot to choose from.

Ugh. Too many sweets. A lack of sleep. We're looking forward to getting back to normal next week.