Christian Photographers Community

Ruth Ann, I wish I could have been there, too.  It must have been a most uplifting evening.

I just found this in my email and couldn't resist passing it on:

The Chief's Wife

"NEXT," the conference emcee announced, "we have the chief of the Minnesota State Patrol, Roger Ledding, who is here with his lovely wife, Beverly."

The chief took his place at the lectern. "I'm a little nervous," he began, "getting up before this distinguished audience and speaking today. But not nearly as nervous as I will be tonight when I must go home with my wife, Audrey, and explain Beverly to her!"

*Thanks to Pastor Tim for this joke!*
cybersalt.org/cleanlaugh

Good morning.  The telephone woke us up this morning.  Dawn, the shower lady, called to say she would be here in a half hour.  So I got my trash and Ivalou's trash gathered and to Kaye Don's drive while Ivalou was getting a shower. 

Then Ivalou did her protime blood test.  Low today also.  1.8.  It is to be between 2 and 3.  So we will be getting a phone call this afternoon telling Ivalou how to take her Warfarin for the next week.  I fixed breakfast while she was 'testing'.

Now I am doing laundry and I have a pot of beans on the stove for cornbread and beans later. 

Ivalou is doing her leg exercises and when I get this posted I will read the morning devotions for both of us.  When I read them out loud, Ivalou understands them.  When she reads, she sees the words and it takes a while to understand the meaning.  Almost like she is starting over reading, walking and talking.  But she sure is making progress! 

She only has a shower today and no other therapies.  So we have the rest of the day to ourselves!  We really need to go to the grocery but I might wait until the weekend person comes to do that.  They seem to bring food and then we have too much that needs to be eaten right now!  But I need to make a list so that they can get what we need if they go.

I was happy to see the temperature when I got up.  It was raining last evening and was said that the rain was to turn to sleet and snow.  But it was almost 40 degrees when I took the trash.  Windy so it was cold but at least no rain, sleet or snow!

Lots of good messages since I was here.  I did come in and read yesterday, but it was a crazy busy day for me and I didn't stay to compose a post.

Al, hope you are feeling 'chipper' by now!

Carol, the slippery slope seems to be all around us.  It takes more and more effort for people to stay on the high ground these days.  And I just read that some Russian scientist has managed to turn alcohol into pill form!  Can you imagine the damage that will do to society?  But.....God is still on His throne.  I sometimes wonder how much more He will allow, before 'the hammer' falls.   Glad you and Don are still able to do the things you like doing, and hope for no more nose bleeds for him.  I was raised in a house with a 'path' and I sure enjoy indoor plumbing, too! 

Etta Sue, glad you and Ivalou will have a slower day today.  We need those, to help us catch up and recover from the really busy days.

Exercise....oh, my!  I was so sore last evening, that after I sat and watched a couple shows on TV, when I got up and started to walk across the room, I was going "Ow, Ow, Ow!!" with every step!  Yikes.  But I went back for more 'torture' today.  I am determined to regain my strength and balance.  We had weigh-in last night, and I had lost only 1 1/2 pounds, so that was disappointing.  But I'll keep on keepin' on.

Jeanne, thanks for the chuckle.  I enjoy those.  I miss Liz posting those, too.  Liz, where are you?

Larry, how are you doing?  Still walking?  I hope you, Pat and Stacey are all feeling well.

My sis who had the hip replacement called me yesterday evening.  She said she was SO SICK the night before that she told them she thought she was dying.  She is not a complainer, so they checked, and she had lost a lot more blood than they thought.  After giving her two units of blood, she was feeling good.  So I'm happy about that.

I'd better close before this turns into a book!

It is bitter cold here for the rest of the week.  Today, I am making a crockpot full of dressing or stuffing and then will freeze portions to hand out.  Love the smell of sage. 

Janet:  A pill like alcohol - nothing surprises anymore. Don did not have a nose bleed last night! Glad that someone checked carefully on your sister and found she needed more blood.  Sorry about your aches and pain right now and I hope you get the desired results after all this work. 

Al:  How are you doing these days?  Are you able to sleep in the bed or still on the chair? 

Jeanne:  Funny joke about the mix-up on the wife's name. 

Good Afternoon,
I hope everyone is having a good week. mines been well eventful. I am turning in my two weeks to pizza hut this week as i will not return after having the baby i have found a job that is 8 to 5 with the same pay and better benefits one of which is i will get to spend more time with my daughter only 3 weeks til Christmas now if i can just get some money scraped together to cover gifts for the family. I dunno.... yesterday morning i woke up to find that someone had ice picked the tires on my pickup all 4 of them they got one on my parents truck but only hit it once instead of the 3 to 4 stabs they put into mine... luckily the insurance will cover part of the expense but its still an unneeded expense at this time... the dr yesterday said everything is looking good and the baby is fine we are just playing a wait and see game as to when she will come... i hope that it is sooner rather than later:) i hope ya'll are having a good day i'm off to lay down then get ready to go to work have a good day and a good week

Hi everyone.  After a rainy and chilly day yesterday we have a sunny, windy and cool day here.  I have had a fun day today.  I didn't have any appointments or meetings so my time was my own.  At coffee this morning my good friend, Rod, asked me if I wanted to go with him to Fry's as he had to return something.  So I did and we had a most enjoyable time at Fry's, then ate a Checker's hamburger, and finally went to MicroCenter.  Pat is giving me a very nice Christmas present and I needed to get it, that way I get what I want.  However, she has told me I can't have it until Christmas.  She told me something she wants for Christmas so will see if I can't get that for her. 

Sarah, so sorry to hear of the vandalism to your tires.  This is such a needless waste as no one benefits.  Nice to hear of your new job and your being able to have more time with your new arrival when she makes her appearance.

Carol, glad you didn't get caught in the pass and that Don is experienced with winter driving.  So far Georgia hasn't passed laws allowing medical marijuana and I hope it doesn't, although I do believe a doctor should be able to prescribe in cases of cancer treatment as it apparently helps those suffering so. I agree with you on the indoor plumbing.  I grew up on a farm with the path and we didn't have indoor plumbing until I was 19 years old.  Winters get mighty cold in Missouri.

Janet, I am doing fine and have begun to walk again since my latest problems, which seem to have been addressed by the increase in medications.  I am still awaiting results from my stress test.  Stacey has good days and bad days.  The weather seems to affect her neuropathy and the rainy day yesterday caused her a lot of pain.  Her pain medication has stopped working so she has stopped taking it.  She is having a terrible time with her diabetes as her sugar gets very high or very low and is very hard to control.

Etta Sue, glad your friends are remembering to bring you all food on occasion.  That is a nice treat. 

Jeanne, your pastor has quite a sense of humor.  I enjoy your sharing the jokes.

Ruth Ann, glad you could attend the concert and found it so uplifting.

Ruth, do you all watch the birds a lot.  We have some friends who are avid bird watchers.

   

Larry, those jokes aren't from my pastor, although he does have a wonderful sense of humor.  I get a new clean joke every day from http://www.cybersalt.org/cleanlaugh/.  Some are just so-so, but every now and then there is one that really tickles my funny bone.

Good evening all!  Have a great weekend!

Thanks for asking how I'm doing, Janet.  Definitely better today.  When I first got home from the hospital I still had a pretty bad cough, plus a fair amount of congestion in my trachea and lungs.  It seems much better today.

Carol - I was working on sleeping in bed until this latest problem of pneumonia hit me.  Hopefully I'll be going back to it very shortly.  Thanks for praying.

Al, I am continuing to pray.

Larry: Yes we get a lot of enjoyment watching the birds so far they are mostly chickadee's and to many to count.  Not even the squirrels can get to the bird seed ha ha

Al:  Keep getting well.

Sarah: It would be nice if people would keep revenge to themselves but that is the world of today it seems.    Be sure to let us know when your bundle of joy arrives.

Mel & I went out for lunch, while there several folk that we knew came by. It was good to see them again.

Now it is time to lock my door for the evening.    Ruth

Another day has gone.  But at least I got something accomplished today.  I got all my Christmas cards addressed, and my Christmas letters done, so tomorrow after a visit to the Post Office, those will go into the mail.  I am disappointed with both the cards and the letter this year, but after the investment of money in the cards, will send them anyway.  I used four photos from our trip to Thailand and Viet Nam, thinking they would be about 4 inches square each----turned out they are about 2 inches square, so tiny you can't really tell anything about them.  And the letter---well, I needed to tell everybody about Beth, and that got too long and is not such a happy subject.  But things will get better, and next year is another chance.  At least that chore is done!

Al, glad you're still improving.  I very rarely have a cold, but sure hate it when they get me.

Larry, glad you had a fun day.  What are you getting from Pat?  And what are you getting for her?  (Inquiring minds want to know!) 

I went with two lady friends tonight to our Christmas Light Parade.  It is really cold out there!!  BRRRR!!!  And it wasn't such a great parade, but anyway we went and supported the community.  We each had on so many layers of clothes we could hardly move, must have looked like three grizzly bears! 

Ruth, nice you can go out and eat and see friends, too.  We seldom eat out when we are home, except when we go to the senior center.  Darrel prefers his own cooking.  I do enjoy going out with friends, though, and we do that once in a great while.

The forecast is for temps from -3 up to 6* in the morning!  Shiver, shiver.

Does anybody want to come over and put up my tree and decorate my house for me?  Or send me some Christmas spirit so I can get it done.  Pat had her house looking so pretty tonight.   

Time to hit the hay.  Goodnight!

Good Morning Everyone or Hi if it is past morning where you are.  It is chilly and still dark outside.  They are saying we may have a little snow in the North Georgia mountain areas tonight but not here.  I am waiting for my neighbor to pick me up to go to the senior center for the Friday men's coffee.  Will probably have a couple of errands to run today but beyond that the day has nothing scheduled.

Janet, I thought I would wait until Christmas to reveal the very nice present Pat is giving me--build the suspense.  Of course, I know what it is.  I do plan on getting her a little something in addition to what she said she wants so it will be a surprise for her.  It is always a relief to finish the Christmas Cards and letters each year and I haven't even started. 

Ruth, surprised you can keep the squirrels from the bird feed.  We used to have a terrible time with that problem and the squirrels would actually tear up the bird feeders.

Al, sure glad to hear that you are feeling better--continue on your journey to full recovery.

I heard from my doctor's office yesterday on the stress test I took.  The technician or nurse who called me said the doctor had reviewed the results and wanted me to have another angiogram or perhaps have a surgical procedure where they use laser to make new pathways in the heart for the blood.  I told her I wanted to have a serious talk with the doctor before making any decisions and will do so at the end of the month.  I want to know how this test compared to the last one and how much my heart has changed since then.  They have to open the chest to do the laser procedure, which is like punching holes in the heart, and I am not keen on such an idea.

Sarah ~ What a surprise!  Glad to see you here.  So sorry about the tires.  What a waste of time and energy for someone to think that is the thing to do.  Do you have any idea who did this?  Did you call the police?  I would imagine for the insurance to cover it, you did.  And I am so glad that you found another job after your baby girl is born.  It will be nice to have 'regular' hours to be with your baby.  Any names picked?

Larry ~ I am hoping that you don't have to have surgery but if that is what is needed, then go for it!  There is new technology every day.

Ivalou will have a busy day today.  So far we don't know who is coming for the weekend.  I may have to extend my time.  I am hoping not but I won't let Ivalou stay by herself and the family all knows that.  Maybe they think since I wasn't here last Thursday and Friday that I should stay this weekend.  Who knows?  I just need to think positive and think my 'job' is over this evening until Sunday evening.

Ivalou has physical therapy and speech therapy this morning and this afternoon she has occupational therapy.  Then she is done for two days!

Looks like it is going to be a bright and sunny day today!  I hear Ivalou stirring so I guess I had better get breakfast started.

Larry, of course you don't want to spoil the surprise!  I was thinking that Pat doesn't read the posts in here; for sure, Darrel doesn't.  I can wait.    I hope further surgery won't be necessary for you, but we want to keep you, so do whatever is necessary that you feel you can tolerate.  I guess what the best thing to say would be, "Make your own decision!"  It has to be that way, anyway.

I shouldn't have started this; it's time to go exercise.  So I will be back later.

Larry:  I can't wait to hear what Pat got you for Christmas.   Tell me, tell me, tell me.  I promise I won't tell Janet until she needs to know!   Good for you on checking with your other doctor about any procedure especially concerning your heart. 

Janet:  Don likes sending a newsy letter and has written those but I don't like to  mention too much - I do in here but I don't like to put that in a Christmas note. 

Stacey:  Good luck with everything over the next month or so for sure.  Sad that people vandalize and you still have to pay a deductible for insurance.

It was 4 degrees F early in the evening last night and today is a bit warmer with the sunshine.  Tomorrow is our HOA luncheon and it will be at a Hyatt residence - very posh, they insist on parking your car.  Ours is filthy & too cold to wash it    Yesterday, I made turkey soup from the bones, stuffing, a huge amount of macaroni - all is frozen in small containers.  I did finish making a triangle shaped shawl and will wash it now to see if it can be put with the prayer shawls. 

Praying for all needs and extra comfort for all. 

Etta Sue I have started to play with animations aren't the fun to do. Do Ali and Inky use the same litter box. Grubby will not use Fritzy's box.

I am having so much fun this Christmas. This tree is 7 ft tall and  I am using both my decorations and Keith's. He hasn't had a tree up since the divorce. I  haven't had a big tree since the boys were teens; Gilbert and Mark (my foster son).  Yesterday I  did some of the grocery shopping and bought the ingredients to make Decadent Fudge, being the chocoholic that I am I will thoroughly enjoy eating  the fudge.

Larry  If you do make the decision to have the new procedure  I  hope that  it will improve your quality of life.

Janet  I am sorry that your Christmas letter turned out to be so depressing.  I quit writing them when my relatives quit sending cards or even acknowledging that I existed. That in itself was very depressing to me.

Carol Brrr, it is 30° here this morning. I am NOT going outside until it warms up some. Grubby  goes out every day, he doesn't like the litter box that we have in the house.

I am back... this morning i slept through most of the cold. I mean its still cold outside at 28* but it was down to like 4* last night i think when we got home.... our ideas of who was behind the tires won't do much good because we cannot prove it since we have no pictures of them or caught them in the act . Anyways its going to be a good day dad got tires ordered from here in town for cheaper than i can get them in guymon and they are paid for (thankfully dad did that too) i will pay him back just don't have that large of a sum of money to pay out all at once. As far as names for the baby... i have decided to take the middle names of both my grandma's (maternal and paternal) and put them together so her name will be Ruth Jean. if it turns out she is a boy 1. he will have lots of pink and dresses to wear for awhile and 2. he will be named Ryan Andrew no significance behind that name just one i picked out She will be the first Girl Great grandchild of my grandma Dorothy. My grandma Ruby has several great grands however since she has passed she won't be here to meet little miss Ruth... But one day she will anyways i need to be off to get some things done before work... i have to work tonight and tomorrow night sunday morning monday morning and tuesday night then i'm off for a day and only have thursday saturday sunday and monday to go .... have a good day!
Sarah

Sarah, good to "hear" from you.  Too bad some idiot punctured your tires.  I think vandalism is such an unnecessary evil, just plain mean and hateful.  Glad dear ol' dad is helping you out.  I like the names you have chosen.

Well....I guess my letter isn't really depressing; I tried to be as positive as possible.  It just makes me feel sad when I have to explain about Beth and the poor condition she is in now.  If anyone is interested, I will post the letter here for you to read.  It is two pages long, though, so be warned!  Our lawyer called last evening, things are progressing on that front, but sounds as if it will be over a year before it goes to actual trial.

Marilyn, since you're having fun decorating your house, please come and help me do mine.  I still can't get into the mood to do it.  I will make myself do some things soon, though.

It was very cold here this morning, too, Carol.  I think they said 6*, and thank God the wind wasn't blowing or we'd really be freezing! Enjoy your HOA shindig!

Hi Etta Sue!  Got your email box cleaned out yet?    Love your animations!

I'm looking forward to two days off from exercise.  Tomorrow evening, Abby is dancing two parts in The Nutcracker, so of course we are going.  Earlier, she will be singing with the Eagleaires (school group) on Main Street.  They are leading the singing of carols, so we will go early enough to catch that, too.

Time to go!

I had begun thinking I'd put up a tree and other decorations this year (I didn't last year).  I was really starting to get into the spirit.  Then I remembered how the electric bill jumped other years so now I'm debating about how much I'll actually do.

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A belated Happy Birthday Ruthie. Sorry I am late but it's hard to keep up sometimes.



Don

I was just thinking about Ruthie a couple of nights ago, and wondering what she is doing and why she hasn't posted in so long.  Hey, Ruthie!  Come back; we miss you!

and .......happy birthday!!

I am watching a pretty pink sunrise out the window here on a cold Saturday morning.  I never cease to be awed by the glory and majesty, the infinite intelligence and creativity of our God.  Makes my heart smile, and troubles fade away.  We have some of the most glorious sunrises and sunsets here that I've seen anywhere in the world.  (Thanks, Abba Father.) 

The father of our sunday school teacher passed away, and his service is this morning.  He was a dear, sweet man, but almost totally deaf, and so frustrated with life these past few years; he has been longing for home.  So I am happy for Jack that he is now in heaven with his dear wife.  Mark (teacher) will be saying the same, I'm sure.  We have often visited about his dad, my mom and Beth--all in the same care home.

Not much new here as I posted last night.  See you later.

I know that Ruthie will be in a little later.

(She better be here!!!!)

Happy birthday, Ruthie!  Can't remember if it is today or yesterday!  Just hope it was all you wanted and more.

Well, guess what?  Ivalou is on a mini-vacation!  She is at her son's house this weekend.  Seemed all three kids were busy so Linda called to see if she would like to come stay at their house instead of Linda coming here.  So I am all alone in the neighborhood.  Seems weird but good that Ivalou is able to have a sleep-over for a couple of nights. 

It is cold...only 19°.  I am trying to conserve money by using the heat pump more.  The utility room is warm and toasty where the heat comes out but the rest of the house is a tad chilly.  I love it sleeping but just watching TV and such, it is cool for me.  I have the fireplace going right now so that should warm it up a bit.  I must remember that I have hot water baseboard heat and I sure don't want the crawl space to get so cold that my pipes freeze so maybe I should turn on the furnace at night after all.  But with me staying at Ivalou's it would be on longer than I would be sleeping so that would be more costly than last year.  What a problem! 

My floors have always been warm with the water pipes under the floor and the furnace heating the pipes and the crawl space.  Well, remember I put vinyl in the bathroom and took up the carpet?  Last night the middle of the night trip to the bathroom about froze my feet!  I found another throw rug to put in there so that might help. 

Marilyn ~ I love your animations and I love making them.  But it has been quite awhile since I have made any.  When I find some that I really like, I resize them to use here.  And I have three litter boxes.  I was told you need one for each cat and one more.  Duh!  They both use all three of them.  No discrimination here!

Sarah ~ Hope you have a camera so when little Ruth comes we get to see her.  It's been a long time since we have had a new baby on CP! 

Kitty and I are going swimming this afternoon and she has some errands to do.  I love spending other peoples money!!! 

Good morning, all.

Etta Sue, what a treat it must be for Ivalou to have a chance to stay at her son's, and what a relaxing time these weekends must be for you.  Please don't let yourself get chilled and sick just to save a dollar or two on heat.  It isn't worth it - and we need you here!!!

Not anywhere near as cold here as Etta Sue has, but we may be getting some "snow showers" - whatever that really means - all afternoon and into the evening.  And it looks like that will be the general forecast for the next few days, with daytime highs in the mid 30's.