Christmas Season Already?

looks like we are spiraling into Christmas. It's a big thing here with lots of preparations. Today we started calling friends to come over for Thanks giving dinner. I'm not looking forward to all the fuss, but, it takes to edge off not having my own family here. Of course Barb anf Mike and Gigi will be here, but the Miller's and Pinkston's, also. With all the kids it should be about 13 people. That sounds like enough. I have finally aquired a housekeeper, for emergencies, and she will help get the house ready.
We bought a Andre Bocelli Christimas CD last night. We are listening to Christmas music now, while Clyde prepares a "Marriage Prep" class lesson we are hosting tomorrow night. I think I'll invite everyone to help drag out the tree and decorate it after scrabble on T-day. It will be fun. Just put it all on, everthing, leave no ornament behind tree.
I am slowly recouperating. I gotta get it all together by Monday, I have to go back to work. I have a few nagging issues and would prefer to leave them at home. It has been a long lazy week and I am ready for a little chatter, and this to all be OVER finally.
I've lost 30 lbs. At Super Saturday today, yes , I attended, wanted to, I got a lot of complaiments on my weight loss. It will be a HUGE effort not to gain any back, but I plan to fight. Enjoyed the 2 hours I was there. Etched glass, learned to use a dry canner and picked up some home health care aid tips. Really, I just enjoyed being with all the ladies. It was a 1st and 2nd ward thing so I got to see all my old buddies. Our ward is so huge I really don't know a lot of the young Barksdale girls. They say they will split us soon, as always, that could be forever.

This weeks goings on

I've been fighting a little bug, I brought home. I passed it off to Clyde and it seems he gave it back. Well, today I fought like a tiger. OTC drugs and o.j. and warm blankets. It is such a beautiful day, chilly but clear. It's been so long since we've seen sunshine. Would love to be in the front flower bed weeding and preparing it for winter.

This afternoon we will take dinner over to Gma B's. It's been smelling the place up all day. Roast, carrots, onion, celery and potatoes in the crockpot. Also, we have black-eyed peas, cornbread and turnip greens. YUM! She is looking forward to it , too. It's fall.....

Crown molding and New Car

Oh.. what A week can do...

We feel so much better. My seat belt burn has gone from red to brick red (looking like a hatchet got me) to pale pink. My bruises have gone from blue to golden yellow and gone. I feel much better and Clyde is getting around better, too. He just has back problems. Thank-you for good drugs. Will probably go shopping for a car next weekend. Insurance adjuster just got over to Tyler ,Thursday, so it is taking some time to get this all cleared up. Thanks to my friend Polly for taking me to and from work. Things are fine. Here are a few better pictures of the Tundra (or what is left of it).

Picture of Tundra

Tundra gone to Tundra heaven

Well, we totaled the Tundra yesterday. fishtailing and rolling it down I-20. Had my 1st ambulance ride to Tyler Hospital. We are okay, bruised and tattered, but well, it could have been a lot worse. I have a knot on my head and sore shoulder and neck burns from the seatbelt. Clyde's back is sore. I guess that's what happens when you flip a big guy 3 times. Thanks for our pray before leaving and seatbelts. We are taking it easy today. It's raining again. Never again will we go to the temple when it is raining. Texas' roads are good till they get wet.

TODAY IS A NEW DAY

Today I am not so anxious, crazed, or out of control. I had a short blip in my health journey, and have paid for it dearly. All things are returning to normal. Each day I feel better and don't feel like I will have to cancel the trip to Utah. Clyde continues to be optimistic ("we'll just tie you to the hood") and has over-planned and measured eveything to the optimum. I let my band get too tight. I thought I had it under control, I really did't have time for an appointment , I could make it. It was too tight to began with, but when mammoth stress was added a few weeks later, it became a problem. A harder lesson was never learned. I won't be doing it again. I'm squeezing in a little quilting in, how do you like this square?

How did I get to this point?

My life is the pits

Holli's off on her mission!

It has been a pleasure knowing Holli Hardey. I've known her ever since Primary. Her parents were young marrieds with us. She has impressed me for a long time. Her maturity and desire to do good has always shown. We are so pleased for her and the choices she has made. Holli gave a great talk this morning in the Stonewall Ward. I could feel the spirit strongly. She spoke of planning a mission as a young girl and read from her journal about the process. She is going to St. George to work on the temple grounds. What a great match for Holli. She has that sweet and loving disposition and will do well in that calling. Angie says she is at peace with her daughter leaving. Holli did live in the Dallas area for a year, but that was still close to home. This is 18 months, over a 1000 miles away. Think of the blessings her family will enjoy, and the growth for all of us, just knowing she is serving.

Showing Mike and Barb how easy it is to blog

Write message here.

Memorial Day in Utah

We had a wonderful and fast weekend in Utah for the Memorial Day holiday. First Jared picked us up at the airport and we went straight to TACANO'S. It's a Brazilain Smorgasboard and all kinds of meats on skewers delivered to your table to choose what you like. Then, a short walk down GATEWAY MALL to the fountains to watch the kids play in the spouts and vapors. They loved it. The next morning we had a picnic at THANKSGIVING POINT and then went in to play in the water at Noah's Ark. Afterwards, we went through the gardens and played on all the fun kid stuff.That evening we had the best CAFE RIO Mexican stacks. Too good, I got the recipe.

Sunday we went to church with Kelly and family. and then Jared made a fire pit in the back yard with some of the stones found in the grass and weeds. (He's been clearing it out to level and landscape). We enjoyed Hot Dogs, chips, smores and candy, yep, toasted on a hot dog stick. We were going up the canyon but it had rained that morning and was still overcast. Kelly said it would be muddy and much colder there.

Monday we went to Kelly's new MARKETPLACE grocery store for a few things and to just get away for a moment. The we all went to see NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM 2. Great movie. That afternoon, we went to Libby's and Rich grilled for us. We had salmon and steak, that guy can cook. Kelly had made a birthday cake for Jared that looked like a bucket of theatre popcorn. The kids had a water balloon war, and played on the swings and trampoline. Tuesday we flew home.

Julie's Shower/ Gigi's Mothers Day

Julie

Bammer and Chris

Brooks

Crissy

Ben, Emma and Beau

Notice Laura and Brent's baby girl, Shelley's Erin, and Lauren's new nose!

Annabelle and Gma Pam

Erin

Had a wonderful time at the shower. All the oldies but goody friends were there. Julie received a lot of nice gifts. It was held a Haily Cagles house. Julie is marrying Nick Burton the end of this month.

Time does fly and so do I

Doing great on the diet. It is not hard at all. I've enjoyed adding tuna and chicken salad and light fish (salmon, baked catfish, tilapia, to my list of foods. I really can contain more than I thought I could. I guess Dr. M didn't fill my band any at all. I read in a book that sometimes they do that the first 6 weeks just so you can get used to it and don't interfere in the healing.

I'm back at work and the same old aches and pains are coming back. Yep, it's a continuous movement thing. I'll manage. Curtis will be back next Monday and all the overtime will end. Can't say I'll miss it. Michele will be back on the 18Th. I missed her.

GUESS WHO'S GOING TO UTAH in a few weeks. Clyde is getting to be more antsy about going than I am. I think twice a year is plenty. I just wish I had my own little cabin and didn't have to land on anyone. Kelly graciously allows us to stay at her house. This time we'll stay in the basement (it won't be so horribly cold, and were going to buy a queen-size air up mattress to leave there. They have a mattress, but I hate to ask Jared to drag it up or down the stairs. He is so kind to us each time we go. I've been blessed with great son-in-laws.

I'm gonna get these pictures on if it's the last thing I do

Here goes again

12 lbs. already

Just ot back from Dr. Merriman's office. The nurse said I was doing really good. She also said I could move on to soft foods. I I ever see broth again it will be too soon. I am feeling good and sleeping better than ever. I have so much more energy. I really think a lot of my problems were the pills that I had to take to control diabetes, high blood pressure and other problems. Now I just take 2 Flintstone vitamins (there crushable) and a baby asprin. I'll go back to work Monday.
I've had plenty of time to quilt. I worked on some applique leaves the late Sister. Moyer gave me. they are on 8x8 squares now and ready to piece together. I've also finished my block of the month, thanks to Barbara. I comprehend better by seeing. The quilt store owner lady just hands me a packet and says "see ya next month". Here are a few.

Using my time-off wisely

I feel better than ever. I ave more energy. I don't understand why, I not eating anything. Perhaps it's the protein drink I have twice a day. The side panel says it helps with all kinds of maladies.
I feel good enough to go back to work. I have really enjoyed being off , and having time to think, sew and take care of some business I otherwise would'nt have time for. Just this morning the garage door man came and installed a much needed door. Ours was having issues and wasn't very trustworthy. I am on the list (hopefully) for Friday with the storm door man. We are putting a new full panel glass door up. The old one is black, dated and worn out. Clyde thinks we are preparing the house to sell and move out to the country. I know better, it will never happen, meanwhile, we get new and needed stuff for the house.
We read about the almost perfect house out on the Keithville-Keatchie road. We liked the discription so well, we drove out to have a look. Yep, I liked it a lot and so did Clyde. 2 acres, a pond, covered patio and deck, big trees, not too far out, all the new stuff but it was a little small, it's just the 2 of us, but we do like to intertain. It's fun to dream. But I don't really see us going anywhere. We don't have time between his mother's care, church, and overload work, to prepare anything.
I made a great chicken soup the other day. Barb came over and we sewed and quilted most the day. We had a great time. My squares are coming along. I started them years ago, before I knew anything about quilting. So, they are a mixture of pleasing and not so pleasing. Oh well, It keeps me from thinking obout food.

Day 9 and Still Alive

It's been a wild week. I am feeling better everyday. The super glue over my wounds still hasn't peeled off. Guess that is good.
Had an enjoyable morning installing fire alarms in underpriviledged homes, Saturday. We have had 7 fire deaths this year in town. Took a long walk in the Queensborough area. The first few houses had either Roitwilers or German Sheperds. Guess they make great watchdogs. The next few houses we could hear people, but they chose not to answer the door. Ashame we have to protect ourselves so .
Clyde and I stopped by Tim's snow cones on the way home. That's one thing I can have (with sugar-free juice). The health food store is across the street and it reminded me I need to get more protien drink. I often wondered how Libby drank that stuff for months, oh yeah, her babies lives depended on it. My life kinda depends on it now. It is great for healing and giving me some energy, and fulfilling my protien needs. So far, so good. Still having the desire for a good meal. Made Clyde some cookies last night. I get the cookie dough already made, and scoop him out a few and there are no leftovers/temptation. We are doing fine.

Okay, now I'm hungry

It's been 5 days of pudding, jello and broth. I am feeling better and would like to eat something. No, I know I can't, I'll be strong and not complain. I'm not as sore as I was, and bending over is a lot better. I even got out today and went to the quilt store to get my next quilt block. I took movies back to Blockbusters and had a heck of a time finding something I'd like to see. Everything is bloody, scary or dragons or I Spy stuff. Found a few decent stories. Tommorow I can resume walking and I plan to go to the post office for Clyde.

The Lap-band has begun

Well, it's begun. I had lap-band surgery last Friday. I still feel rather lost, hoping I have done the right thing. This will be a life long commitment, one that was necessary, but, still scary.
So far I have had jello, water, chicken broth, sugar-free popsicles, sugar-free fudgesicles and did I mention WATER. It is all timed and you can just sip. I don't want to get too much and puke. So far, I haven't been hungry or maybe I am just always filling my little pouch. I have not missed food so far. Amazing to me because my whole life revolved around my next meal. I know it will be hard on Clyde, my not cooking, but he says he wants to lose 40 lbs. And if he gets real hungry, he'll just hit fast food somewhere before he get's home. Hope he hides the evidence well.
I feel fine, I'm trying not to get into the habit of taking the pain pills. I can tell when it's "calf rope" time , though. It feels like I've been kicked in the stomach (on the left side) by a very mad bull. Getting up out of a sitting position is a strain, but I'm sure it will get better with time.
I feel guilty for leaving my co-workers with my share of the work to do. We already have a few out with surgeries, but this was do or die to me. I didn't want to put it off anymore. I'm hoping for a happier, more energetic, healthier me. I'll keep you up dated.

Been a while, I'm still here.

A lot has happened, nothing extraordinary. Clyde is working 60 hours a week. I'm work still and life goes on. Went to Aunt Nell's funeral last week. Saw Linda Sue.
Attended an auction last night to collect money for the scouts to go to an all LSD Scout camp in Arkansas this summer. I came away with a cool picture Rachael painted, a marble slab and 2 heavy duty ice cream scoops and some cookies. We bought cookies for the missionaries who really appreciated them. WOOF! WOOF!
Ashley and I hve a new VT route. It looks like it will be uhhhh ... different. One lady is a special needs person and will ned extra care. Thank goodness that is what Ashley does for a living. She accesses medicaid patients needs and finds help for them. JACKPOT! Maybe this won't be as difficult as I thought.
Aunt Tommie had a small stroke. She is under a doctors care. She is 84 and helping to raise her grandson's two, 3 and 4 year old. I think of Kelly's friend and what a blessing it would be to connect, for both parties. But, I don't see Arein letting them go completely, if he can help it, and Utah is so far...
Monday starts another week, gotta go prepare.

Christmas 2008

We had an enjoyable time at Christmas. The grandchildren seem to grow so fast. Each have their own special personality.

We tried to keep it under-extravaganza this year. I don't know, but it seemed less . I continually

put things back and said "NO". Me , saying no to something for my grandkids?Am I trying to buy them? Maybe trying to make them remember me? Cameron made me feel the best when he said, "you get the best gifts Grandma" (he got some extendable Batman wings).We've heard comments like "we want the children to know it's more about baby Jesus than gifts". Maybe it is time to focus better on the real reason for celebrating Christmas. It is fun to shop for them, and there are so many new things. We also hear of needs, and feel compelled to fill them. Abby said" well, this was a "medium" Christmas. Next year will be a small one. Truth told, they have everything, and don't need another Santa Claus.