Christian Photographers Community

John I did our Costco shopping yesterday. We do this about once every 4-6 weeks and stock up on essentials.  while we were out we met up with a friend John grew up with.  She lost her hubby to cancer about 3 years ago to cancer. 

John and I have a nasty virus. it has settled in John's chest sinuses and eyes... His eyes look like he has been on a weeks bender, red and puffed up.  After we were home his vision blurred, and we decided to go to the ER. After a 4 hour wait we finally were seen only to be told it was viral, and basically "live with it"... John is really struggling, and he has a school bud run tomorrow.

Well our family Christmas (on the 15th) is shaping up, it seems there are a lot of people excited about coming together this year.  Kimi will be missed, however her desire to have the family reunited is starting.  It is amazing how stubborn people are when it comes to forgiveness... They forget forgiveness is for them as much as for others. As long as the enemy keeps wrongs upper most persons thoughts forgiveness doesn't happen. I am asking for prayer that there will be peace on Saturday.

We stayed home from Church today as we are contagious, and don't want to pass it on to others  So we will watch our favourite pastors on TV. It is almost as good as being there.

Now for the carol!!

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For countless Christians around the world, "Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus" signals the beginning of Advent.

It was first published in 1744 in Charles Wesley's Hymns for the Nativity of Our Lord, a little collection so popular that it was reprinted 20 times during Wesley's lifetime. Published in two eight-line stanzas, this hymn is now generally sung in the Advent season rather than during the nativity of Christ as the title of the collection indicates.

The Wesleys published several small collections of hymn texts that were affordable for a wider number of people. They were usually on themes associated with a particular season of the Christian year or the sacraments. These volumes offered a way to disseminate Methodist theology and enhance the personal devotional life of those in the Society. The collections also provided a corpus of songs to sing together when the Society gathered.

Interestingly enough, "Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus" appeared in an American Methodist hymnal in 1847, nearly 30 years before it was included in a British Methodist hymnal. Only the rare North American hymnal omits this hymn now. It is part of the fabric of our preparations for the Incarnation.

"Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus" has the quality of a petition—a prayer that implores Christ to be among us. Imperative verbs are used six times in the two stanzas found in the hymnal: "Come, thou long-expected Jesus"; "From our fears and sins release us"; "Let us find our rest in thee"; "Now thy gracious kingdom bring"; "Rule in all our hearts alone"; "Raise us to thy glorious throne." The cumulative effect of these petitions is a tone of supplication. Wesley succeeds in recalling the deep longing of ancient Israel for the Messiah—the Promised One.

He also draws upon another cumulative technique, the repetition of a single word for effect. In this case it is the word "born" which appears four times. Each time "born" is sung, an aspect of Jesus' mission to a troubled world is revealed: "Born to set thy people free"; "Born thy people to deliver"; "Born a child and yet a king"; "Born to reign in us forever."

British hymnologist J.R. Watson notes that this hymn's "uniqueness comes from its skillful conjunction of several elements into one simple-sounding discourse. Those elements include the Old Testament promise of the Messiah, 'Israel's strength and consolation' who has been long expected and who will set his people free; the New Testament story of the birth of the child who is also a king (Matthew 2:6); and the idea of the Christ-child not only as the strength and consolation of Israel, but also the hope of all the earth, a Christ who is born for the Gentiles as well as the Jews."

While many hymns of the Advent and Christmas season recount parts of the narrative of the Christmas story, Charles Wesley offers us a poetic theological discourse that allows us to apply the story of Christmas to our lives. Perhaps the greatest example of this is to be found in Wesley's famous Christmas hymn "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing"—a hymn that moves theologically well beyond recounting the story of Christ's birth to an exploration of its meaning.

Although we live in a different time than Charles Wesley, the longings of people's hearts are just as deep. We long for security, love, relationships, meaning. To those who open themselves up to its message, this hymn identifies with that longing at the deepest levels of our existence. Where there is no longing, there can be little meaning. Hope is central to Christian experience.

And where will our longing, our hopeful waiting lead us? Where is the ultimate home of our hope? In the final line Wesley takes us there: "Raise us to thy glorious throne."

Hi Everyone. It is 36 degrees here according to the weather app on my phone.  It will remain cloudy with a high of 42 degrees with a 20% chance of rain until late afternoon when the probabilities go up to a max of 60%.  The termite inspector is suppose to be here around 8 am to do the annual inspection and refill the traps.  A friend is also due around 8 am to work with me for an hour.  I have to get in contact with the heating man to come and look at our heat pump, which remained frozen all day yesterday and I still see ice on the condenser this morning.  Fortunately, the emergency electric heat has kept us nice and comfortable.  I do have to take the car somewhere to have the air checked in the tires again as the warning light has been on for several days.  I also need to make a quick trip to Costco to return the curtains we forgot to take back last week.  I think that will be plenty for today. 

Judy, that is about how often we stock up at Costco.  Nice you met a friend there yesterday.  Sorry that you and John are experiencing the viruses and hope you both are feeling better today.  It does warm our heart as we see our families come back together when there have been rifts.  If only people would understand they punish themselves more than the other person when they hold bad feeling about a loved one.  I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas on the 15th.  Thanks once again for posting the new Christmas Hymn and background. I am familiar with that Hymn and sure we will be singing it at our Church services this season.

Just let me know if this color & size is OK or annoying.

Judy:  So sorry you two have a virus at the same time.  There is enough time before Christmas that you could be over it.... prayerfully.  I wish I had a nickel for every time someone in family was "offended".  Good grief - an auntie of mine was mad at a funeral because I didn't pick her up - and I had no idea she wanted me to drive over there to bring her to the church.  I didn't even live there  Most of the time, these things seem so trivial.  Get well soon. 

Larry:  Kneaders is a Christian run business and they close on Sunday.  It has bakery goods,, soups and salads - we like to support any business that will dare to close doors on Worship Day. 

We leave for home next Saturday and will meet one son at the airport who had medical tests the following week - he is flying in from Montana.  We are so grateful that the children have planned a gathering pre-Christmas for all of us.  I have been online setting up a grocery pickup at WalMart and hope it works again.  We are taking the cheapest flight and it is so annoying to not have carry-on luggage but we did plan on this before coming to Arizona.  Don has meds to bring. Everything has to fit under the seat - we can do this!!!!

Judy:  How is Pat?

Hi everyone. I sure wish we had a Costco here. The closest one is 75 miles away in Roseburg. I might make a trip to Costco while I am in Eureka for Christmas, if I have some time between visits. I will  leave for Gilbert's on the 24th, we will spend Christmas with his girlfriends mother and on the 26th I will stop by to see Willa and family on my way back home. So I may not  get in the Costco trip. I also need to get there before the banks close so I can get Gilbert on my bank accounts. I will be leaving early as it takes at least 4.5 to 5 hours to get there depending on how many times I stop, I am, taking freckles with me.

I like having spell check.

Larry what is the name of the Password Manager?

Hi Everyone. We have a beautiful, crisp and sunny morning that started at 30 degrees and is suppose to get to 50 this afternoon.  I slept in until 7:30 this morning and have been busy ever sense.  I had to empty the dishwasher, fold a big load of laundry, fix Pat's breakfast and my own but think most of the work is done for today.  We do plan on getting out today to get haircuts and then will stop at Ruby Tuesdays as they have there $5 chicken sandwich today.  As far as I know we have no other stops to make.

Yesterday was really a great day for me as felt good all day.  I did finally get the air up to par in the car tire.  The downer was that when the repair tech was here for the AC, while he was able to get it going again, he had to put in 4 units of Freon at $75 per unit and is ordering two new parts, which will be covered by warranty, but we will still have to pay the labor and for more Freon.  However, we don't really have any choices in the matter as must have good heat and then cooling in the summer.  The man was suppose to inspect our house termite traps and the house yesterday but he went to the neighbors house rather than ours.  Today I get the inspection reports and the bill for his visit.  Something wrong with this picture.  I called them and now he is scheduled to come here late Friday afternoon. 

Carol, I found your posting easy to read and the color was fine for me.  It is too bad people decide to "take" offense as they just hurt themselves more than the other person and it isn't worth it to me.  We can't read another person's mind or know what they expect of us if they don't communicate to us.  As you say most often the matters involved are really trivial.  Good for Kneaders closing on Sunday.  Are you meeting your son at the Phoenix airport or the Denver airport?  I just bet your pickup of groceries at Walmart will go well and save you a lot of energy. 

Marilyn, it probably wouldn't pay you to make the trip to Costco as you would have to pay a membership fee and not get much good from it.  I think anyone can order from them online but if you don't have a membership they charge you an extra fee.  I am glad your trip to see Gilbert isn't any longer than it is.  I agree the built in spell check is handy.  The password manager I have used for years is called LastPass.  It now costs $14/year but it gives you access to what is stored in it from any device or location when you sign in with your Master Password.  Just be sure to write down somewhere that you can find it the master password as they cannot restore your site without it should you forget it.

Hellooooo!  I'm home!!  We had a very enjoyable and profitable time on the missions trip, everyone stayed well, no falls, no tummy aches, just many blessings!  We are so grateful to the Lord for His awesome protection.

We built 20 stoves for needy Mayan families, who were so appreciative.  It was a real blessing to be a part of this mission.

We arrived home at around 10:00 Sunday night.  I spent yesterday doing laundry, posting photos (mine wouldn't post from Guatemala!) sorting mail, etc. Still need to catch up a bit on rest.  My big book order arrived while we were away, so I was thankful for John coming out every day to bring in the mail and packages, and see about the cat.  He likes to help.

Today is a tough day--one year since Beth moved to heaven. I know she is happy, healthy and whole and enjoying every minute in her new home; and we will be joining her soon. John came out yesterday and I tried to encourage him, too. I know he is so lonely without her, though.

I mailed several more books this morning, got a book signing set up, and several other errands done. I'm having trouble getting myself organized. 

Good to read all your posts from the days I was away. God bless you!

In some hymnals, the editors noted that a hymn's author is unknown to them, and so this artificial "person" entry is used to reflect that fact. Obviously, the hymns attributed to "Author Unknown" "Unknown" or "Anonymous" could have been written by many people over a span of many centuries.

Hi Everyone.  We are in for another beautiful day with it getting up into the 50's.  I have a friend coming by at 10 am this morning to spend an hour with me and then I will take Pat over to a friends home where the ladies in the craft group will be enjoying a Christmas luncheon.  She doesn't even have to make something to take, which makes it nice.  I am go happy that she is feeling up to attending.

This evening she in planning on fixing ribs, baked beans and potato salad and also a cherry pie for our dinner as Scott will be over.  She will be pretty well done in when all of that is done.  I will help her as much as I can.  We did get haircuts yesterday after we had our main meal at Ruby Tuesday's. I downloaded the audio book of War and Peace by Leo Toystoy.  I have never read it and may not be able to get it finished as it is about 51 hours of recording.  At least someone will be pronouncing all of those Russian names.   

Janet, so glad to see that you and Darrel are home safely and that the Mission trip went so well with no falls or illness. The building of the stoves is what our Church mission team does as well on their annual mission trip to Guatemala.  It must be quite an eye-opener to see how other cultures have to live compared to our living conditions.  It is hard to believe that a whole year has passed since the passing of Beth.  I did finish reading your new book this week.  You are certainly a lady of great faith and I know that is what sustained you, Beth and John over the years.  Remember the happy times and let the rest go.  That is what I have done with Stacey and that has worked for me. 

Judy, thanks for the new Christmas hymn. This is also a another new hymn for me.

I asked ALEXA to play old Christian Christmas songs and everyone has been Elvis. 

Larry:  The Denver airport is where we will meet oldest son coming in from Montana and we will all be picked up by our middle son.  It will be non-stop action for the following two weeks - need strength. We depart Tucson and take no overhead items with us.  Before we left home, we set up any meds and other things for this two-week stay.  Tell Pat to try to pace her kitchen work - it can be exhausting to do what we normally accepted just a few years ago. 

Our Christmas cards are ready to send.  I made a crockpot of vegetables and a bit of ground beef for soup along with two cheese quiches last night.  Some of everything is frozen for several later meals.

Prayers for all who are ailing and remembering family members who are not with you.   

Hi Everyone. Today we are expecting just clouds but a high into the low 60's.  This morning I will pick up my friend and we will go downtown to coffee.  After I return him home I will go over to Walmart to pick up a couple of prescriptions and then get the online grocery order.  We expect the heat pump tech here sometime today.  Beyond that nothing else is on the schedule.  Pat did enjoy her Christmas luncheon yesterday and the dinner she prepared last evening was delicious. Scott really enjoyed it.  Our great grandchildren and their father sent us the largest Christmas card I have ever seen.  They had all signed it. 

Carol, glad to see you could fly from Tucson and not have to deal with the huge Phoenix airport.  It is also helpful to be picked up by someone.  It would be wise if you took your medicine bottles with you as the TSA will probably question medicines in little boxes, at least that was my experience.  You may have experienced something else and perhaps the rules have changed since I last flew.  Also will you have plenty of medicine if you get snow bound in Denver beyond when you expect to be there?  I realize this isn't any of my business.  We are enjoying having frozen meals available to use from previously home cooked things.  I am almost certain that will be what we will have this evening.

Thank you Larry for your tip on having our meds at the airport.  Don is the one with the most crucial meds - I can go without and there is no problem.  He just opens everything.  Yes, we have to pay about the same as going through exhausting Phoenix airport.  Your special Christmas card sounds terrific.  Can you frame it? 

I have a dental appointment this morning and then can get serious about our travel.  We thought about not going but there are some huge issues we have been praying over and just need to get home.  Looking at driving & the cost & snow issues, we thought we had better take the cheapest flight instead.  And, this is non-stop so I won't have to run in the airport (like last time) when we were sent to the wrong gate - they closed the door right after we entered the plane.

Just thinking about being with the family and friends - making me weepy.  Happy too. 

Judy:  Thanks for all your work in putting everything together on CP.  I hope you are getting over the virus.

Janet:  Glad that you are back safe and sound.  Peace be with you - especially at this time of the year.   

Yesterday, I did go paint with my buddies at The Main Artery for a few hours.  I didn't accomplish much, but really needed to unwind, and it helped.  The day before, a a friend of Beth's met me at the coffee shop for lunch and to pick up a book; and while there, I set up a Book Signing there for December 21. I thought the paper would interview me, so we could get it in the paper, but the girl said "we are so busy we don't have time for an interview.  But if you want to write something, we can MAYBE get it into the paper before the 21st."      Some newspaper that is!  The gal who is actually the "publisher" is never available any more, don't know what's up with that.  But I will write the article; that way it will say what I want it to say!

We have wind warnings for today; gusts up to 50 mph plus! Ugh.

Larry, so good to read that you're feeling better!
 Sounds as if the new changes in your meds are helping.

Yes, you are right about remembering the good times and forgetting the rest.  Beth was always a joy, really no bad times to remember except for her health problems going on for years and the amount of pain she endured.  I'm happy for her being in heaven, I just miss her presence here.

I got good news re my eldest sister!  After the surgery to insert rod and screws in her femur, once she woke up, she was sitting up and eating!  So that's a tremendous improvement.  Still a long road ahead, but we are encouraged.

Carol, I wish you and Don a safe and uneventful flight back to Colorado, and a wonderful time with your family.

We aren't doing anything big for Christmas.  Probably just going to Hugoton for a few hours with the kids.  I've decided not to even stress myself about putting up a tree, though I'd love to have one.  I have a few new ornaments, some I got while Darrel was hospitalized in Wichita with the lung problem, and I got some lovely beaded ones in Guatemala.

I need to get busy writing the great article for the Ulysses News!    

Janet:  Glad to see you are back safe and sound.  Good wishes for your newspaper article.  Most of all, prayer and a hug for you on this remembrance time with Beth. 

I just returned from the dentist, they had one little job and it cost me $75 even with my insurance discount.  Don has finished making (on the computer) all of the cards - he had some printing problems this year. 

Larry:  I am happy you are still comfortable in the house.  Always something!   

Good afternoon, Janice has called me with updates on her mom.  Not sure how much I am at liberty to say.
Pat had a small stroke I believe on Tuesday.  She was admitted to hospital for observation. Yesterday early AM she fell.  They did a procedure this morning, and she is in intensive care.  I have tried calling however her phone is turned off.  I will keep you up to date, and will give more info as it is released.  I don't want to invade her privacy.  Please continue in Prayer for Pat.

Hi Everyone.  We are in for a very rainy day today with the chances either 100% or 90% for most of the day.  It will be a good day to stay in.  The housekeeper will be here this morning so we will be enjoying a nice clean house again in a few hours.  Yesterday the heat pump repairmen came and spent a couple of hours as it was a big job to install the new parts.  A very large part went into the unit in  the attic and a smaller control board in the outside unit.  The good news was that the Freon that had been put in a few days earlier was still there and we didn't have to buy anymore of it.  Hopefully we are all set for the rest of the winter and next year as well.  I did not go to coffee yesterday morning to the great disappointment of my friend but wasn't going to leave while the workmen were here.  After they left I headed to Walmart to pick up my medicine only to discover it was too soon to fill either prescription but I picked up the online grocery order.  I forgot to stop at the customer service area to pick up something I had ordered for Pat's Christmas that I had shipped to the store to save the shipping charges.  The other item I had purchased was from Amazon and it was delivered yesterday. 

My main plan for today is to wrap up the Christmas packages for Pat's sister and get the box ready to mail as we need to get it to the Post Office for mailing.  As far as I know our Christmas shopping is finished.  I will write my Christmas email letter next week.  We did try for our dinner last evening the French Onion soup I had gotten frozen at Costco and it was pretty good.  We topped it off with a piece of the cherry pie with a little vanilla ice cream on it. 

Carol, it would be worth the price or a little more not to have to drive to the Phoenix, find a place to park and get around those big terminals, and then ride the trolley out to the boarding area for your plane.  Glad to see you have a non-stop flight.  I can't remember when I got away from the dentist for less than $100 or more. 

Janet, how big is your local newspaper?  The one we get for North Augusta is really a waste of paper and if they didn't throw it in my drive most weeks I wouldn't bother with it as it generally copies of other articles I have read in the Aiken newspaper. I hope they get your article published by the 21st. 
Glad you were able to paint yesterday and unwind a little bit.  I do think the changes in my medicine are helping although by the time I got the grocery unloaded from the car and into the kitchen yesterday I was experiencing chest pain that lasted until about bedtime.  Nothing serious but uncomfortable.  I was glad to have the nitro available.  Had you told us about your older sister breaking her femur?  If so I seem to have missed it.  Glad she did well from the surgery.  It sounds like a good idea to pass on setting up your tree.  Maybe you could just put your new ornaments on an end table or somewhere that you can enjoy them without stressing yourself out with decorating. 

Judy, thanks for the update on Pat but sure wish it had been good news and not bad.  Poor lady what an ordeal she has and continues to go through.

I have lost a total of 6 lbs while dealing with Keith's problems, the hospital and also since he has been home. My Dr. suspects it is from stress, however, she wants me to have a CT scan of my lungs just to be sure there is no cancer since I am a former smoker.I am down to 139 this morning, i was 140 last week and 146 when all this started in October. For my check=-ups my lungs have always been clear and I don't nave difficulty breathing  if I take my inhaler each morning, I am not in any pain either, but I am concerned about the weight loss. So I am going to email the DR. and have them set up the scan appointment for after the  eye surgery next month.

I have the gifts for  Ca. all  packed up in  the Christmas bags, and Freckles beds are washed so that much is one for my trip south on the 24th. I contacted the area Agency on aging yesterday and will have a face to face meeting with  them on Tuesday to discuss other resources available  to Keith's care and for me to get some respite help.. The also give a yearly allowance for medical equipment and for sough like Ensure or Boost. There is also a caregivers class that I will be taking  that deals in all resources available to the caregiver (Me).

Good morning!  It is to be better weather here today, only gusts instead of constant wind.
I have a hair appointment, and will be so happy to look better after so long!    Then I have a few other errands relative to the book, to do.

Larry, thanks for your comment re the new ornaments.
I think I will do that.  I have some very small trees, could use one of those for them on the coffee table.

I have a page set up on Facebook for Walking Beth Home, am hoping that will bring in some more orders.  I realize this book isn't entertaining, but pray it is helpful to others. Sales are trickling in, and I pray the book signing will help.

Larry, I thought I had mentioned about my sister, sorry.
She started feeling great pain on Thanksgiving Day, could only lie on the bed and cry.  They took her to the hospital, they did scans and sent her home; then her femur broke while she was just sitting in a chair!  Scans showed her bones have become very thin and brittle, even her skull has thinned!  Further tests show she has multiple myeleoma, a type of leukemia.  She is in hospital in Omaha, Nebraska, an they have done surgery to insert a rod and screws in her leg.  After she woke from that, she was able to be placed into a sitting position and eat a little bit.  Yesterday her son reported that she sat up on the side of the bed, stood, and pivoted to the commode, which caused pain so they had to give her pain meds. (She had been off the prescription pain killer for 20 hours.)
She is 82 years old, and has served the Lord nearly all her life, working tirelessly at everything she saw that needed to be done, as well as tending a huge garden, making big meals for family, etc.  Prayers for Doris appreciated--we do see His hand in this.

Marilyn, glad you are taking care of yourself, as many caregivers fail to do that, and it's so important!
Merry Christmas to you and yours!

I made it through Beth's anniversary, and her home going day, and then was broadsided this morning when I thought about the fact that her service was one year ago tomorrow. Strange how things trigger the tears again.  I don't dwell on it, am so happy she is free, it's just the nature of the grief journey.  I'm fine, all is well.

Carol, I don't know what day you were flying back to the Denver area, but God be with you.  I pray you and Don will be blessed with a joyful and peaceful Christmas with your loved ones, and be refreshed and totally healed.  Love you!

I must run!

Prayers for each and everyone of you.  So many trials with health issues - prayers for ceasing of pain and any discomfort. 

Oh it seems never ending for Pat, how much more is she going to have to take, bless her...just seems one thing after another...

Hi Everyone. We have another overcast morning but only a small chance of more rain today.  Our rain yesterday was light and periodic.  I did get the couple of items wrapped for my SIL and then went to the Post Office.  There were only 3 people ahead of me and I was out of there in 5 minutes of so and was surprised.  Then I went on to Walmart only to find it was to early to get my prescriptions refilled. I did get a few other items we needed so it wasn't a wasted trip.  About 4 pm the doorbell rang and it as the man to do the annual termite inspection that I had set up but forgotten about.  So that is done for another year and all was well. 

My schedule for today is pretty light.  I do plan on attending a meeting this morning.  I have unloaded the dishwasher and set everything out for Pat's breakfast.  This afternoon I will rest and then watch some college basketball or one of the bowl games.

Marilyn, unusual stress can do some bad things to our health.  It sure won't hurt to get the CT scan of your lungs as better safe than sorry.  Glad you are getting in touch with your Agency on Aging as they will know of the services and assistance available to you. 

Janet, I hope you Facebook page for your book will generate a lot of sales for you.  I would say along with Beth's story your book is very inspirational. Is your sister crying because of the pain or for the situation she finds herself in with the myeleoma.  Do you remember Judy McKensie, up in Canadian, who posted here a long time but had such brittle bones that they were always breaking?  She was an inspiration to others. It is time for others to do for her in her time of need.  We each have to grieve in our own way.  We have been watching this with our son over the loss of his wife three years ago. I think Carol and her husband are flying back to Denver today. 

Jackie, it does seem to be never ending for poor Pat and Paul Harback is also not at all well.  I hope Judy will have an update on Pat's condition today or tomorrow.

Larry, my sister was crying from the unbearable pain.  She hasn't been crying in the hospital, as they are managing the pain for her.  No update yesterday, so I assume "no news is good news."

I've been praying for our Pat Scott Halbach.  Such a lot she has dealt with now for over two years.  I so wish there were something else I could do for her, but I well know that prayer is the first and best thing.  Hoping for an update on her soon.

Larry, our little newspaper used to be really good, but for years now it has gotten smaller and smaller.  Lots of people don't bother even reading it anymore, as it has maybe three pages of stuff about happenings in the community, and the rest is school sports news and pictures, and one page of ads.  I surely don't want to see it go out of business, but they need to change some things!

Darrel is headed to the hot tub, and I think I will go join him!

Jackie, good to 'see' you this morning!

Good morning everyone. Keith is getting stronger by the day, however his short term memory is going down hill  rather quickly. I feel like I am watching him disappear right in front of my eyes.

I went to the hospice potluck last night, It felt so good to just get away with a room full of such caring people so relaxing and  stress relief. I will not be taking on another hospice patient but will be volunteering in the office there a few hours a month. When I go in the doors of that place  it feels like I my second home and the stress just disappears so it will be good for me to work a few hours there.

I have changed the hours  for the caregiver too, instead of working 8 hrs a day for 3 days I changed it to work 6 hrs 5 days a week, I need that time  to take care of me and to get out to do the caregiver classes, in-service at hospice, get my manicure and pedicure. Well you know what I mean. Today we are getting a bid on the roof from another company, the first one has  dilly dallied for 3 months and never returns my calls. This man just happened to drive by and see the tarps on the roof so he left his card.

Hi Everyone.  Rather than being rushed in the morning I decided to go ahead and post this evening.  I am happy to say I am feeling better this evening than I have all day.  We just finished having a salad dinner.  I had tuna on mine and Pat had canned chicken on hers.  It had been awhile since we have had that meal.  I did go out and attend my meeting this morning but was glad to get home and eat a quick lunch and then lay down.  I am enjoying watching some college football and basketball games.  We did see a little sun today and a brief shower and the temperature has been pretty good. 

Janet, glad to read that hour sisters pain is being controlled.  I expect we all would cry if we were in terrible pain.    I don't see how newspapers are going to survive.  I still like to look at the paper occasionally but haven't subscribed for many years.  It has been years since I have been able to be in a hot tub as it made me so weak feeling I decided it wasn't safe with my heart condition. 

Marilyn, glad to see that Keith is getting stronger but the lose of the short time memory is probably something that will continue to get worse.  You are right it is seeing the person we know disappear.  I am glad you are taking the steps needed to better take care of yourself and have some outside activities to help you get relief from the stress of the many hours you care for him.

It's that time again.  I will be leaving Tuesday morning for California.  My grandson, David, has taken it upon himself to host a Family Christmas Party next Sunday, at his place.  He has been hard to get in touch with for many years, but I've learned he is now divorced from the wife who was keeping him away from us.  He seems really eager to be back with all of us, and I am just as happy.

I will be traveling Amtrak again because I just am not a great fan of driving that distance and/or running into snow, wind or heavy rain. The only drawback is that I have to travel light and any Christmas shopping will have to wait until I'm in Sacramento.  Another glitch is that the bus for Eugene leaves Coos Bay at 7:15 a.m. gets to Eugene at 9:30 a.m. and the train doesn't leave Eugene until 5:10 p.m.  I will have a whole day to find something to occupy my time in and around the Amtrak station.

Since it's dark at both ends of that trip, and Nita doesn't drive in the dark, I will call a cab both going and coming back home. She has always been so sweet to do that service.  I'll probably rent a car in Sacramento because I'll be getting there early Wednesday morning and everybody works and will not be able to pick me up.

This grandma is looking forward to this time with the family; some I have not seen for years.  I will be returning before the New Year. Leaving Sacramento at 11:59 (might as well say midnight  )Friday, the 28th and arriving back in Coos Bay around 7 p.m. the 29th.

Jane...
...have a safe and enjoyable trip...

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Richard is up and about after having a bad night with his breathing, chest pain and jaw pain...I am assuming he will go back to bed, too early for him but, today is the day he will start preparing himself for his tomorrow colonoscopy...These last few weeks he has endured several tests and procedures, he had the throat endoscopy tube last week, he had previously had an X-ray and ECG...He will be due February to go see Cardiology Consultant...As of yet we are unsure what is happening to him, he suffers type 2 diabetes and COPD, also just found out to now add a Hiatus Hernia to his list...He has recently been suffering breathing problems, chest and jaw pains, is also anaemic, and maybe losing blood, he is very pale, although he was given an iron infusion a couple of days ago... there was also talk of suffering a heart attack but, if so, neither of us are aware of that happening...Richard is still going about doing his business, dog walk, although cutting it shorter and of course  supermarket shopping twice a week but has stopped for the last couple of weeks going to his COPD exercise class...

As for me, I am as well as can be expected for someone who is suffering Primary Progressive MS....For the first time in yonks I have bought a four foot " artificial " Christmas tree with lights and is now decorated, I just had that strange feeling as if treating this Christmas as our last, and one has to act on it....I never wanted a Christmas tree before since we now dont have our three darling fur babies, but I have now relented and trying to re-create what we once had, ( albeit not the same ) if you understand what I mean...

We went to Moscow this morning to see the little great-granddaughters' Christmas program at church.  It was cute, with costumes and all.  Then we had dinner with them and Diane and Jeff, before coming home.
We were invited to stay for evening meal, cantata, and gift-wrapped desserts at the church, but Darrel still isn't feeling up to par, so we came home.

Jackie, enjoy your Christmas.  Whether it is your last together or you have many more; still it's worth celebrating the birth of our Savior!  I have been feeling 'bummed out' remembering this time last year, when our precious daughter Beth went to heaven.  But I did put up a tree--it's half the size of yours, only 24" tall and I put it on the coffee table.  But the lights cheer me up, and I enjoy it.

Sorry to hear that Richard is suffering health problems.  Marilyn can certainly empathize with that, along with the rest of us.
It just seems to be a part of this stage of life.

My sister is better, they got her up in a wheelchair today to take her around the hospital to look at the Christmas lights.  In the picture they sent, she looks SO much better!  So I'm thrilled about that!

I did a bit of shopping here in our little town yesterday, now I need to get busy and wrap things.  We might go to Garden tomorrow if Darrel feels up to it.  I need to do a couple things relative to my book (posters) and to getting my framing business going again.  And we need to buy the ham for the family Christmas dinner.

I think I may take a little nap!