Let There be Light, Comin' Up on Forty, and Trying Something For the First Time

Hi,

It feels like forever since I've been on here. I've got more time on my hands but I'm sure filling it up fast!

 

Beth's and Sharaya's birthdays are in a couple of weeks so we've been working on that. They're two years apart but Sharaya's is October 6th, and Beth's is the 10th. Beth turns 40 (!!) so we've got a few surprises planned.

I've been making my own greeting cards for many years and for the first time ever I'm going to try selling them. Our church has been hosting a holiday market every October and that's also coming up in a couple of weeks. It's a lot different making them for fun, vs needing a certain amount and having a deadline. I've reserved a little 6' table at the market and I'm trying to figure out how to fill it up. Many of the sellers have two-to-three times that much. I went to Hobby Lobby yesterday and got some fall flower arrangements that match my cards (sunflowers, etc.) and little boxes to display the cards. I'm excited, and nervous at the same time.

 

When Beth isn't at work or bowling or church... she sits at her desk, watches TV and draws. She has stencils and draws the alphabet over and over. It's a common thing among people who have Down Syndrome. Not necessarily drawing, but things with repetition. That's why the same schedule each day works best for them, rather than constant change. Beth is right-handed and her ceiling light is on her right, so she wears a light, like a miners light on her head. Hers is attached to a soft headband. Well I have a lamp at work that I thought she might like, it's got a USB port where she can charge her phone. And it can sit on her left so her right hand won't block the light while she writes. She chose the pink one of course and it arrived the other day.

So far she loves it. I hope it works for her. New things are sometimes hard for her to accept into her already set routines.

I should get started on my day. Even though it's already noon on a Saturday. I'm tellin' ya the days are absolutely flying by! I hope you have a great weekend!

Alerts! Peace, and So Grateful

At work yesterday around noon we started getting alerts on our phones about a tornado near us! What?!? This is Seattle! But on the peninsula about 30 miles to the west of us, there was a sighting! We kept track of it but never took any action. A while later they canceled the alert. It sure woke us up though! The weather's been so stormy lately and at 1:15, we lost power. No computers, no printers, we all just hung out in the hallways and offices that had windows. An hour later one of the pastors told us we could all go home. We're at our desks getting our things and wouldn't you know it, the power came back on! We spent the rest of the day talking about how close we were to having the afternoon off! 

I'm still working 6 days a week so I try to keep Wednesdays my own. Today I worked on some greeting cards, the first time in almost a year. I pulled up YouTube on my phone and listened to some quiet worship music while I made them. It was so peaceful.

 

I worked around the house this morning and then took some chairs out to the garage. While I was out there I found all my Christmas mugs! I brought them in and washed them, then had some eggnog and watched a Christmas movie!

I've been thinking of my dad this week. He was on the USS Dixie during WW II and repaired the giant cranes onboard the ship.

 

I'm thankful for all the men and women who have served this great country for centuries. And for all those who are serving today, thank you. May God bless you and your families, and keep you safe.

I Think the Crows Read My Blog

Beth had another dentist appointment this week. She's got to have a total of 3 root canals plus a crown. This was her second visit for all of this work and I'm nervous for her, but she's perfectly fine with it. The endodontist keeps talking about how good she is as a patient. We got there early and she fell asleep in the waiting room.

 

I made a few more greeting cards. I really love doing this, it takes me out of my routine and I get to be creative. It really is therapeutic.

In my last post I wrote about how the crows were dive bombing this poor hawk. I really think the crows are the bullies of the bird world! Well, Beth and I ran some errands after her dentist appointment and a crow pooped on me!! We were walking out of Safeway and had just cleared the roof when... splat!! It was like he was waiting for me! And it's a brand new sweater, the first time I'd ever worn it!

 

I cleaned it with cold water before throwing it in the wash. Thankfully it all came out and it looks like new again. 

Have you ever had a bird poop on you?

What do you do to relax or get out of a rut?