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!

We Had a Bomb Cyclone Blow Through

 Hi,

A few posts ago I talked about how I showed up for the Harvest Party to find the lead custodian had to leave early. Well, turns out he's been under a lot of stress at home, in ministry, and then at work so he ended up stepping down from that position and I'm back to being Supervisor again. This is the busiest time for us so to try to hire and train someone now wouldn't work. I'm glad I took those couple months to rest while I had the chance! We'll look for new candidates after the first of the year.

Last night we made it through a Bomb Cyclone. I remember having one or two others in the years we've lived in Seattle but they are rare. And I think this one was the worst.

 (From Fox News)

On the right you can see Washington, Oregon and Northern California

They said we had 75 MPH wind gusts, that's strong for this area. And we had so many downed trees. Our power went out around 8:30 last night and I hear a very sad, "Nooooo!" from downstairs. Beth and I got out the flashlights and she came upstairs to hang out with me. She doesn't like to be downstairs when the power's out.

About that time Chuck texted me. He was working - driving a city bus - when he came across a downed tree across the road. The police were already there so he stopped and called dispatch. Then he hears a large crack and a tree had fallen and hit the back of his bus! Thankfully he was in a 60 footer so he wasn't injured at all. The police came over and took pictures and then he waited until a metro supervisor arrived. He ended up not getting home until after midnight.

Right after our power went out I noticed the pilot light in our gas fireplace was still on (sometimes it goes out when the power does) so I turned it on real quick. Then I remembered I bought two battery operated sconces for the living room so I turned those on. Beth and I stayed nice and cozy all evening. Our power came back on around 1:00AM, not long after Chuck got home. That's when we all went to bed.

Beth sound asleep in my recliner

I know not everyone faired as well as we did. I was thanking the Lord for how good we had it. I've been watching the Weather Channel and it looks like the rest of the country is going through some storms. I pray you all stay safe!

Fall, Old Cars, Graduation Gift

 We woke up the other morning to this...

 

 

Today we have blue skies and it's gorgeous out but it's cooler than it has been. You know when 70 degrees in July is different than 70 degrees in September? I think it's time to put the comforter back on the bed.

 

I went to our local car show last weekend. I don't know a lot about cars, but I sure love lookin' at 'em! Especially the older ones.

 

 

 

Do you see the Queen waving from the hood?

 

 

My first car was a 1969 Mach 1 Mustang. My dad gave it to me for my graduation. I only had it for a couple of years but I sure got a lot of attention when I drove it around. Didn't know why at the time. Now I know! I sure wish I had taken better care of it.

 

 What was your first car? Did you have it for a while?

 

Where Was I?

Look at me sitting at my computer writing to all of you! It's a Christmas miracle! Things haven't slowed down one bit since I last wrote, but I can definitely see the light at the end of the tunnel.

 

So, where was I? Oh yeah, "Then the snow hit."

 

I know weather is relative. A day of rain is a deluge to some and barely noticeable to others. Two inches of snow is armageddon to some and t-shirt weather to others. On Tuesday the 28th we got the first snowfall of the season and church was canceled, city busses were put on snow routes and schools shut down.

 

 

 I know some of you are trying not to laugh. And I appreciate it. Tuesday night our power went out and was out for almost 24 hours. I was so grateful for my tea kettle! Peter bought it for me for Christmas last year because our power had gone out earlier and I couldn't use my electric kettle. Hot tea is good any time of year but it's crucial during a power outage! Diana invited us over to her house on Wednesday so we hung out there for a while. It was warm and toasty!

 

 

Diana and Peter's dog Poppy

 

Eventually the temps rose above freezing, the snow melted and we were all back at work by Thursday. Decorating day for us. The entire staff spends the morning decorating the church, it's fun. Then we all eat pizza and head back to our desks.

 

 Plus I've had a doctor's appointment, a dentist appointment - all routine stuff. I've got my Christmas cards almost done; I'm getting some gifts ready for the custodians, havng Christmas dinner this week with a friend in assisted living... but all-in-all I think things are beginning to slow down. 

 

Peter's family is coming out here for Christmas this year so the gift-giving is a little different. We've actually decided to only buy gifts for the kids. No adult exchange this year, which I'm okay with. Takes the pressure off. Chuck, Beth and I will exchange gifts Christmas morning, then we're all going over to D&P's for dinner and games. We haven't seen his family since the wedding a year ago September so I'm really looking forward to that.

 

Dinner is about ready so I'll close this. I miss you all! I haven't been reading - or writing - it seems for a couple weeks. I'm taking a week off over Christmas so I hope to do a little more blogging during that time. I hope you're all doing well! God bless!

What We've Done... Or Haven't Done

I'm trying to remember what we've done since Easter.

Beth is still enjoying her new job. Well, same job, different location.

We bought a second car from some old friends. When I say old, I mean a couple in their 90s. V can't drive anymore and her van has just been sitting in the driveway for over a year. V's husband (also V) knew we were looking for a car (I've been sometimes walking back and forth to work lately - about a mile each way - if I wasn't able to get rides from Diana or co-workers) so Chuck and I bought their van. It's a 1993 and not much to look at but it gets me back and forth to work! I thank the Lord every time I drive it!

So in the last couple months we've gone from a 3 driver / one car family to a 3 driver / 3 car family. It's made a huge difference in our freedoms around here! :)

No new pictures to show you. We haven't really done much in the last couple of weeks. The weather has been gorgeous lately so we're trying to get outside more. Working in the yard, taking walks. I have Allie today so maybe we'll go do something outside... and I'll try to remember to take some pictures!

More Boxes

It's funny how you go through stages with blogging. Some weeks it seems I'm on this all the time, thinking about what to write next, reading every blog I can, leaving comments...

Other weeks, I go days without even thinking about it. Or if I do, it's just a fleeting thought about how it's been so long and I really should post something.

This week has been one of those fleeting thought weeks.

I was thinking a lot about Kristen Kirton. Her birthday was last weekend and I couldn't stop thinking about her and her Family.

Our weather has been gorgeous lately so we're outside every spare minute, sitting in the sun, doing yard work or watching Allie play in her kiddie pool.

Diana took another trip over the weekend. She left on Saturday evening for Orlando and spent one day laying by the pool at the condo, then spent a day at Disney World. Then Tuesday, yesterday, she came home. Flew clear across the country... and was only gone three days. Unfortunately she was sick the whole time. She went to the doctor before she left, got some antibiotics and was told it would be okay to travel. So she went, but never got better. Still coughing, still had a headache, still feeling feverish. But she went. And had a good time.

Ryan has good days and bad days. Sharaya stays strong. At least in front of others. I've only seen her cry once, she's pretty amazing. Ryan has applied to a couple jobs but nothing has panned out. We're praying that the Lord would heal Ryan from depression. That this would only be a short season in their lives and not what their lives will be like from now on.

Beth is still working and still doing well. Her main jobs are folding pizza boxes and washing dishes. To me it seems natural that when she comes home we ask how it went. That's what people do, right? I want to know if she did anything new, if the manager said anything to her about anything. I'm the mom, I want to know!
This last Saturday her bus dropped her off, she opened the door and said, "More boxes. More dishes." Then promptly went down to her room. I'm beginning to think she doesn't like the nightly interrogation :)

Not Much

There hasn't been too much happening around here this week.

Diana and Sharaya are planning a one day trip to Disneyland at the end of this month.

The Seattle Seahawks are in the playoffs and everyone is excited about the big game tomorrow against Atlanta.

My hours have been cut at work, from 31 down to 20. So we're looking for ways to cut costs. I would really like to just be home 4 days a week; work on projects, hang out with Beth more, but in all reality I may have to find another part time job.

Now that Beth is volunteering at the school on Mondays, she'll be busy 4 days a week. And she told me tonight, "I want to eat healthy from now on." Yea Beth!

We've had freezing weather this week. Temps in the teens and 20s! Twice now I've gone out in the morning and couldn't get the car doors open! At first the key wouldn't turn, and once it did, I couldn't pull the door open! A friend at work who was born and raised in Canada said the next time, I need to light a match and warm the car key with that. Another friend said she poured warm water around the door frame. But when she went back out at lunch, all that water had frozen!

It reminded me of something I read in Readers Digest:
On a cold, winter morning a wife sent a text to her husband, "Windows frozen!"
He sent back a text, "Try pouring warm water over it."
A few minutes later she responded, "Computer really messed up now."

Hope you have a great weekend!