The Feeling Of Freedom

This last week was so emotional. You could tell my dad was nervous about moving but he knew it had to happen. My sister has been doing everything for him and I think he was just expecting her to do it all. At one point my dad told her, "Deb! I'm hungry!" And she asked him what he wanted to eat. And I lovingly said, "Actually dad I think what you meant to say was, 'Hey Deb would you please fix me something to eat?'" 

And honestly, neither one of them smiled. They both had exhausted, no nonsense expressions on their faces.

Throughout the week I had to remind my sister to feed her animals.

My dad asked her to help him with everything.

She forgot where she put medication.

The house was always closed up. 

Every day she got him out of bed and helped him to the couch. Sometimes he would get up and walk around the living room and kitchen to ease the Restless Leg Syndrome but for the most part he stayed on the couch until it was time for bed again.

They absolutely love each other and they both know the other one is trying their best but after so many years of this, the situation had just drained them both.

It was without a doubt time for my dad to move.

My niece, nephew and some of their kids came over and helped us move the few pieces of furniture that he was going to take with him. We got him in the truck then went back into the house for our purses and stuff and my sister began to cry. I just stood there and hugged her for a while.

When we got to the facility Deb decided to leave my dad in the truck while we moved his stuff into his room. It didn't take very long and he was walking into his new place. His room is much bigger than the one he had at my sisters and there was bright sunlight beaming in through the window.

They put a pole by his bed so he can start getting himself out of bed on his own. My sister has helped him for years but he has to be able to do it on his own.

While Deb sat at the table with the administrator going over medications and paperwork, my dad walked around the facility.

It's a gorgeous place with animals on the property (goats, miniature horses...) a beautiful courtyard, all the residents eat every meal together in the dining room, it's going to be a better quality of life for him and I think he realizes that.

After 3 days his only complaint was that they don't feed him enough! For a 94 year old, he eats non stop! He's the only resident that cleans his plate and asks for seconds! 😋 

The last time Deb and I visited him we were only there a short time when he said, "Well you two I guess I'll see you tomorrow." He was ready for us to leave! 

Thank you all for your prayers. We know he's gonna be just fine!

And my sister? We went back to her place and she collapsed in her recliner. "I can't believe how free I feel."

So Busy

I've been so busy the last couple of weeks, even more than usual. We're remodeling a couple of our bathrooms at work which puts more work on my department because our maintenance guy isn't available to unclog a toilet or hang a TV... the custodial department is definitely working overtime! The bathrooms will be nice when they're done though!

On Wednesday:
Three loads of laundry
Worked in the yard
Visited with a dear friend (He's 87 and a widower)
Went to Costco
Went to work for a couple of hours
Then Beth and I went to the grocery store
Whew!

I was up early on Thursday to help serve at our National Day of Prayer event. There were about 200 people from different churches and denominations from all over our area. The breakfast started at 7am so most of us arrived at 6am to help get things ready. It really is a blessing to be a part of the Body of Christ.

Beth got a new jacket the other day. She's needed one for a while and we found one in a magazine that had elastic around the wrist. It's so hard to find inexpensive clothes that fit her because her waist is large but her shoulders are not and her arms are short... Well, the jacket came.

Looking at the label

Realizing it's addressed to her

The elastic isn't as gathered as we'd like and the sleeve hangs down over her hands, but I might be able to fix that. But it completely covers her tummy and she can't wait to wear it!

Thank you for all your encouragement and kind comments on Beth's new job. I took her to work yesterday afternoon (after working in the morning and coming home to meet the pest control guy!) and we spent about 2 hours doing the actual job. She signed her time card, we put her key on the lanyard she bought just for work, we put on some gloves, got the big rolling trash cart and got to work! She doesn't have her uniform yet but here are a couple of pictures of her in action.

She finished emptying all the trash (there are a total of 19 trash cans in the 8 classrooms and 4 bathrooms) in just over an hour (a lot faster than I expected!) so I'm already planning to give her more work. 

On Monday I fly out to San Diego to help take care of my dad. Actually on Tuesday we're moving him to a facility where he'll be able to get 24/7 care. My sister is absolutely worn out and it's tearing her up to have to do this. She called me a couple of weeks ago, sobbing, asking if I'd be mad if she put him in a home. He's becoming more angry and violent, like slamming his fist on the table and yelling at her when she's just trying to help him to the bathroom or make him dinner, and she's done. Physically, mentally, she can't go on. So I am going down on Monday and will be home on Friday.

I know it's not going to be a 'vacation' but it will be good to see my dad and sister again and help them through this transition.

Have you been through a transition lately? 

Was it good or difficult?

Job Update

I sent Christine (Beth's job coach) a text a couple weeks ago asking for an update in the job search. She sent me a long reply so I started reading it out loud to Beth and Chuck. We were all sitting at the kitchen table:

"The Chocolate Co. isn't going to work due to payroll issues..."
"Starbucks is doing away with their lobby attendant position..."
"McDonalds wasn't a good experience. Manager was very rude..."
"Schools are getting out so students are applying..."

And on and on. 

I wasn't even thinking about how Beth was responding to all this and all of the sudden, she leaned toward me and threw her arms around me. She was crying.

Oh, I felt horrible! I stood up (with her still draped on me) and just held her while she cried. 

It just broke my heart.

The next day I went to my boss and asked if I could hire Beth. I do the hiring for my department but wasn't sure if there would be an issue with me hiring a family member to work directly with me.

No problem at all. Hire away!

(I can't remember if I've told you that I already checked with the state and with Beth's case worker and they both said I can find her a job without having to go through them.) Once my boss said yes, there was no stopping us.

I asked Beth if she wanted to work with me or if she wanted to wait for Christine to find her a job. "Work with you."

So I took Beth to work with me to show her what exactly she'd be doing. Our weekday preschool was on a field trip this week so she wasn't able to do the actual job but I walked her through the process. I gave her my keys and she was unlocking doors, checking each classroom thoroughly... I think she's gonna do great. I even introduced her to a few of the other custodians and they were excited to have her on board.

This is going to boost her self-esteem, help her lose weight and give her a sense of purpose. She kept checking her 'fitbit' and showing me how many steps she had taken.

Next week she'll come in and do the actual job so I'll keep you updated!

Sunshine, Dinner Time And Audition Results

Linking up with Rebecca Jo from Knit By God's Hand

We've had a lot of rain lately so I'm thankful for the beautiful sunshine we had yesterday!

I'm thankful that I'm getting closer to finishing that den. I don't like to start a project if I can't finish it right away or at least in the same day. So this has been a test of patience for me!

The baby birds are growing so fast! They really fill up the nest now!

 

This picture's a little blurry so I just went out to get another one and as soon as I opened the door, I saw this...

Must be dinner time!

But the one thing I'm really thankful for is... I sent Beth a text at about 1:00 and asked her if they had posted the cast list yet and did she know if she was in the show?

What are you thankful for today?

What We've Been Up To

Last week was just amazing. I'm sitting here just staring at the screen because I don't know how to describe it. Our time of prayer and fasting was powerful and I'll be spending weeks digging deeper into everything I read and heard.

Plus I was so busy! It's amazing how much time there was because I wasn't on the computer all the time. It's scary how many hours I spend on this thing.

Spring is all over the place here in the great northwest! 

 

Remember the nest in the wreath on our front porch?

The birds hatched and you can see their tiny beaks!

I had Beth clean out her fridge and we defrosted her freezer.

 

I'm in the middle of painting our den. It was Diana's room and she had painted it green with a black stripe. It looked really cool but I'm repainting it with white and yellow and it's been quite the job painting over the darker colors! 

Before

 During, with gray primer

 

I was at work every day this last week preparing for Easter services. I helped the custodians clean and set up rooms, plus there were landscapers, window washers... this was my first Easter being in this position of Supervisor so there was a lot to do!

 We all went out to the Cheesecake Factory for lunch today. I don't remember ever being there before and oh my word, it was SO good! 

Then Sharaya and Allie came over and we played Mexican Train and Sharaya hid some eggs in the backyard for Allie to find.

 

Then Sharaya went grocery shopping while Allie and I played with her legos. We laughed so hard!

 

 I missed you all and thought about you so much last week! I'm glad to be back and will spend the next few days getting caught up on your posts.

I hope you all had a wonderful week!

"And Now Here She Is, All The Way From Seattle Washington... !"

She told me she would watch the concert tonight and that I could record her! I went downstairs at one point and she said it still had a ways to go before her song came on. Then a couple hours later she sent me a text, "it is getting closer to the music"

(When I first started recording she put her hand by her face so I wouldn't be able to see her, so I stayed where I was to help her feel more comfortable and just got the side view.)

It was 3 1/2 minutes long and when I tried to email it to my computer, it said the file was too big. I'm not very tech-savvy and it didn't tell me how long it could be so I just got the last minute or so. Her big finale! You can see her plant her feet to get ready to hold that long note:

 

Please pray for her tomorrow, Monday at 2:15. They have more auditions next week so they'll post the cast list on the 24th. 

We'll keep you posted!

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Our church is having a time of prayer and fasting starting tomorrow, to prepare our hearts for Good Friday. A time to set aside all the distractions that can keep us from the Lord, that takes up so much of our time every day. It just helps us focus more on the Lord and the sacrifice He paid on the cross. So I will be off social media for a few days. 

I hope you all have a blessed week as we prepare to celebrate the resurrection of the Lord!  

Way Off Broadway

All Aboard is putting on a show in July but everyone who wants to participate has to audition.

They're calling it the Way Off Broadway Variety Show and Beth's audition time is this Monday at 2:15.

She's planning to sing Bring Him Home from Les Mis. But it's the version from the 10th Anniversary Concert at Royal Albert Hall. It's a really difficult song to sing but she's pretty good at holding that last note. We were in the car the other day and I was amazed at how long she held it! "Wow Beth that was really good!" 

She just beamed. 😊

She practices all the time and every day she'll text me, "I did hold the note mothera!" I tried to get a video of her singing it but she didn't want me to record her.

Maybe as the concert gets closer. 

Showers - Inside and Out

Link up with Rebecca Jo at Knit By God's Hand

I've realized lately how thankful I am for my loofah!! Every time I take a shower I feel like I'm getting a massage. It's so relaxing!

I don't have a green thumb at all but a couple years ago I planted some tulips in pots and put them on my porch. Now they're blooming and I love seeing them every morning!

  

I'm thinking about everyone in the Midwest as you're getting more snow this week. Seattle is getting gray, dreary rain but I'll take it, especially since it's the middle of April! I can't believe some of you are still getting snow! Stay safe as the storm rolls through.

Mama bird has built another nest in our wreath and there are 3 little eggs! Our front porch is alive with spring!!

Sharaya and Allie joined us for lunch on Sunday, then Sharaya went grocery shopping while Allie came over to our house and we played Mexican Train. Family time is the best!

   

Do you play board games?

What's your favorite?

Teaching An Old Dog New Tricks

Have you ever felt busy but haven't really been busy? That's kind of how it's been for me this week. I haven't been on the computer much because I've been doing a lot around the house, plus I've been at work every single day, but it's not like I've been running around like a chicken with my head cut off. (Do chickens really do that?!)

On Saturday I went into work to check on a few things and was told our trash dumpster had been half filled with mulch. What?! Sure enough. There's nothing we can do about it at this point so I hope the refuse company actually empties it!

  

I also need to get our maintenance guy out there to trim a few branches so we can close the lids.

Sharaya and Allie spent spring break in Palm Springs, CA! Sunshine, blue skies and a pool! I was a little more than jealous. They met up with the same friends they went to Paris with and spent one day hiking in Joshua Tree National Park but other than that, they spent their time lounging by the pool. A true vacation!

 

I'm trying to teach myself sign language. It's something I've always wanted to learn and I get started and then I stop. For a long time I've felt the Lord has wanted me to learn it, through conversations with people and different circumstances, you know when you know you're supposed to do something? I've had this book by Elaine Costello (you can tell it's well loved) and it not only lists signs by category: Things, People, Food, etc. but there's also an index that alphabetically lists every word. I LOVE that! 

The last few weeks I've been sitting in the deaf section at church but there's no way I've been able to keep up. I know a few words and can sign them when they're in a song, but mostly I just watch. I'm really excited to learn this time around!

 

Our Sunday school class has been pretty quiet lately. Only 3 or 4 students each week. I need to contact the other families to see how they're doing. But, there have been no screaming outbursts. No calling the paramedics. Sometimes quiet is good.

Today they spent a lot of time reading. Teacher Rebecca (in the jean jacket) sat on the floor with one of our students looking for books about dogs. I had some soft music playing in the background and it was so peaceful. They're all on the autism spectrum and I think they just really enjoyed the quiet and the stillness of the room. 

It really was a good day.

Have you learned something new lately?

Is there something you want to learn?

 

Shopping, Work and It's Ours!

 

 Link up at Knit By God's Hand

I got to spend a couple of hours at the mall this week. There are so many new stores I'd never seen before! Do you have these where you live?

I got to work on Tuesday and was immediately greeted with, "Both large coffee makers are broken." Thankfully the company sent out a repair man right away and he fixed them both!

(I have no idea how this could even happen!)

Chuck and I took a walk on the Burke-Gilman Trail on Monday. The weather was beautiful and spending time with him is always one of my favorite things!

I asked Beth to check the mail today and she brought in the title to my car!! We paid it off last month and now it's official!

Mine, all mine!

Do you shop at your local mall very often?
Are you a 'always have a car payment' kind of person?