Movin on.

So, we've gone from this:

To this:

My hubby is much better. Although, I'm not sure he was ready to move furniture! But, had to be done. His mom's apartment had to be cleaned out by April 1 and so they rented a truck, left Weds and were back at 10:45 last night! WOW! Whirlwind trip! I know he is wiped out!

Company from back home tonight. He is giving an ASL talk on Sunday at our Congregation. So, today will be clean, move furniture and blow up a mattress!

Never slows down, does it?

Many Clocks to change

With 8 plus clocks in the house, I start on Saturday around dinner changing all the clocks to make sure of a few things.

1. That I get them ALL changed!

2. That I am in change mode all evening-(not that it works).

3. That we will also be on time for whatever the next day-(not that this works either.)

My body clock is the hardest one to change. I have been getting up at 5 or 6 AM almost all of my life. (You would have to ask my mom if it is ALL of my life-if I was one of THOSE babies that woke up early.)
Today, I woke up at the same time I usually do. I woke up, per the clock, at 5:30 AM. But in reality, it is 4:30 AM! Not a fair thing to do to me. Oh, I know, I have no legitimate reason to be up at that time today and could have stayed in bed. But, my mind starts reasoning that IF I go ahead and get up, I will get adjusted to this change sooner. Yeah, sure!
It's not bad enough that I get up so early, they are going to get me up even earlier? Then when I go to study this AM, I will inevitably fall asleep, or struggle for hours- accomplishing nothing! I have a hard enough time staying awake at night, now I will be dead tired and fall asleep even earlier. Of course that means at meeting, I will be able to sleep.

Is the Fall change any easier? The alarm clock will say 4:30, but my body clock will say it's time to get up! It's a lose lose thing for me. Many other people think, "AWESOME! I get to sleep an extra hour!" Not this body! I can't convince my body clock that it is okay to just forget when you used to get up and now get up later!

As you can see, I am not a huge fan of the time shift. I realize YEARS ago, when it all started, it had a purpose. I thinks somewhere along the line it has lost whatever purpose it possibly could have been. I think we were told years ago it was for someone be able to have more daylight time. If that was EVER true, did anyone ever think that possibly they could just be the ONLY ones that need to get up earlier? Why does the entire country be shifted? And weren't we always told -we all have ONLY 24 hours? Well, today, that is a lie! I only have 23 today! SOMEONE STOLE ONE FROM ME!

Just when we were beginning to think that we are getting out of winter because it is getting lighter in the morning, they change the time and back to dark mornings again! Feels like winter setting in all over.

I would like to think of something positive to say about this. I am sure, for mother's with small children, being given the extra hour before the chaos starts is a plus.
I am up early-been up for 1 1/2 hours, it's dark at 7 AM and My hubby is asleep. I totally resent his being able to ignore what is happening around him!

Whose Idea Was This?????

The Agony of De Feet.

Okay, here they are. He did go for a pedicure before the surgery.

Wouldn't want the Dr to see his feet in less than perfect shape, now would you?

And this is how he has been spending his time. Anything that I can bring to him, he can do.

Oh the life!

This would be great if he was retired and didn't have pain in these feet. Just lie around and have your wife feed you grapes! Guess those didn't show up in the pictures.

A place for everything.

I am spending my days, keeping busy while my husband is laid up.


Always SO MUCH to organize! I am the ultimate organizer!!! I think even if I had my entire house color coded, labelled and put exactly where it can be found, I could find a new thing to organize. In theory, to organize things you need to think, "A place for everything, and everything in it's place". So, if I were to look for... say the tape, it would be in the part of my house where I keep stationary items. Never sitting out amongst a bunch of newspapers. Or say, the stapler, same thing? I actually have drawers that are catagorized by items-Pencil drawer, pen drawer, drawer for things that hold things together (stapler, tape, glue). I actually do have a misc drawer-for paper clips, rubberbands, etc. Not sure if the rubber bands and paper clips should be in the drawer for things that hold things together.


My hubby is of a different opinion. So, I try to organize for him, probably causing him extreme frustration, I'm sure. He knows where he put his stuff and just because I don't think the restaurant receipt bills, or the TV cords or nails do NOT belong in his sock drawer, does that mean he isn't organized? It's all in your viewpoint I guess.


I think he might have gotten this quality from his Mom. While visiting her in the hospital, we were cleaning up some things at her house. I feel a bit guilty throwing out things of hers while she is in the hospital, however, I honestly do NOT believe that receipts for groceries from 1992 are important to keep. Or old empty mayonaise jars. (Not just one-a whole cupboard full!) Or old kleenex's-the used kind!


When Jim and I got married, I was so afraid to move his things and throw out his "Stuff". But again, I found 2 year old coupons and confidently threw them out. Now, I confidently throw out all kinds of things!. I also confidently throw out the wrappers off of candy. Not without a comment like, "Are you saving this for a reason?"


I maintain that in order for him to continue to need me, though, I need to organize his stuff and he will need to ask me where things are-thus creating a need for my presence!!!


So, while he is recouperating from his foot surgery and laid up in the bed, unable to walk, I can do what I love to do. Organize his stuff! I even bought new file folders to organize the two file cabinets. And I can throw out those old receipts and coupons!!

Shred Shred Shred!!!

Away and Sad news.

I've been away. My husbands Mom has been ill and we are glad she is now stable.
The doctors and nurses at the hospital in Moose Jaw, Sask were awesome.
We could really see how hard they are trying to give her great care.

At one point she was quite upset that she could not drink or eat anything. So, Jim said a prayer with her and we told her to focus on Jehovah. We told her Jehovah knew how she felt just like he did David when he was undergoing trials.
So, when they brought her ice chips, I asked her, "Who brought you those ice chips?"
She replied, "Jehovah." Thumbs up Madelyn!

Unfortunately, my camera is still in Moose Jaw waiting to be picked up. So, I don't have any current pictures for awhile.

And, very sad news. We lost my Aunt Marian. She was 97.
When I was about 5, my mother left my father with 3 small children to care for. He knew he could not take care of us alone, so he temporarily sent us to live with my Aunts. My sister and I lived with Aunt Marian, my brother with Aunt Lorna. After we returned home, we visited Aunt Marian every year growing up on vacation.
Aunt Marian taught us so many things! Love, obedience and respect were some. Also, that you better be home when the noon whistle blows or there will be consequences, and how to iron my uncle's shorts!

About 2 years ago, we had the opportunity to go back to Breda, Iowa and visit her and go to see her home. You know how often you think it would be nice to go back and see the home you lived in when you were a child, but of course, it would never look the same. Well, in this case, it was EXACTLY as it was when we grew up! How exciting! The corner cabinet that held the comics was still there-with the comics! And, the bed we slept in was still there upstairs-I think it even had the same bedspread! The tile steps to the upstairs-the same. Although, I remembered the steps much higher then they were. (Maybe she had them shortened?)

When we went to see her, what touched us the most was her memories of us being there. She told us how much she wanted to adopt us and keep us. But, she could not and it made her sad. That meant so much To have someone care that much for us was very tender and dear to my sister and I.

So many memories. So sad to see her gone.

We just look forward to seeing her again. With my Father, also.

Daddy's Hands

There is a song by Holly Dunn called "Daddy's Hands" that will always make me cry when I hear it. It reminds me of how my Dad would hold my hand and fiddle with my fingers.
When I was a teenager he would want to hold my hand in the mall, of all places! How embarrassed I was that my Dad was holding my hand! (My husband holds my hand when we are in the car and fiddles with my fingers the same way! Amazing!!! )

As a teenager, I never thought there would be a day when I would just love to feel hands again.

Some events this week have brought those memories back to mind. Before my Dad died, he was in the hospital on a respirator. We would fly to see him and hold his hand and look into his eyes as he struggled to breathe. After a few months of struggle, we knew he would not be long with us. He decided to end his struggle and remove the breathing tubes. So, we flew to his side and held his hand and told him we understood. We all knew it would be a hard thing for us, but we knew we didn't want him to struggle for each breath any longer either. We held his hand many times that night. We kept a vigil at the hospital for nearly 24 hours before he lost his fight for life. It was one of the very hardest things I have ever done in my life to see my Father die.

"I remember Daddy's hands

There are things I have forgotten that I loved about the man,

But I will always remember the love in Daddy's hands."

This week, we lost a dear friend. He also was struggling for each breath. Several of us were there to hold his hand. Many times I wished I could just take one breath of my own and give it to him as I wished I could for my Dad, but of course that isn't possible. I look forward to seeing our friend again.
I also look forward to holding my "Daddy's Hands" again one day. That day, I will never say I am too embarrassed to be holding his hand!

Our Meeting TV

Our CO was so sweet. But, not impressed with our outdated technology in ASL. So, he bought a new TV before the meeting on Tuesday. A few technical difficulties, and because it was only 32" TV, it didn't work, to his dismay.

Now, we knew we needed to be "Upgraded" but we are waiting on renovations and the regional building committe to approve. The progress has been slow, for sure. So, Jim and I took the TV back. Cute-he gave us his C Card and the next day I told him what a nice shopping trip we took!

But, we now have an awesome "Loaner" 42" TV that was obtained from publishers who got it in the US at a great price! Jim and and another brother installed it on Friday before the meeting.

That little sliver in the corner is what I got. If I was Amy, it would be much clearer. But, since I forgot my camera, this is all I have.

WOW what a difference! Except, now when we comment, you can see EVERY part of your signing, and face ever clearer. Some days, not what you want!