Thursday Thoughts

 Thoughts:

•  Happy Birthday to my dad!
• Weather has been GORGEOUS :)
• No comment on the events of 6 November...

Another one of those two possibly three trip kinda days...love my life though just notsomuch that drive :)

Many plans are being formulated regarding W727 (that's my new call sign for the wedding)! Thank goodness for Micheal's coupons, that has been awesome this week, with the 50% off! Candles are nearly all purchased. Along with the rose petals. Plugging away, we are!

Have a great day people, it's the only one you've got might as well make the most of it!

Ima gettin' my grout fixed...maybe!!!

I'm totally hyped to report that our flagpoles are re-fixed...I hope they hold this time. I wish I had a before picture but I don't! You can trust me on this, the holders were NOT put up well. I am really not sure they are this time either, but at least they are up again! They sure aren't pretty either with the pole all messed up, but again they are up again! We've been without our flag for well over a month!

While the flag fixer fellow was here he also wanted a look at the "caulking" needed in my master bathroom...I had a feeling he meant grout but I didn't say anything. I just took him up and let him see for himself. I also made sure he saw the hall bath as it has the same issue. Ohhhhhh, he told me he didn't have the right stuff to fix that with him. Yep, I thought as much. So, looks like the grout has to be ordered. 

Since I have been living with a sandy beach (grout disintegrating) in my bathroom since we moved in I guess a few more weeks won't hurt. I am taking a before shot on this though! It's a little unbelievable that the former occupants didn't report this for repair IMO. Then even more unreal that the "make ready" team who had several weeks before we moved over didn't have this repaired before we moved in. Then we reported it when we cleared our former house, still nothing happened. Finally MiB put in an electronic maintenance request a couple weeks ago and we are getting somewhere. Not fast but we are getting somewhere! Progress is good!

Hall Bath

 Grout is coming out.

Master Bath

 It is much worse in the master.

If you know anything about Barksdale you might be thinking but those homes are old, I mean historical, and you have to expect some deterioration, it's only natural for their age. But of course, however, I DO NOT live in the historical homes area, no siree, I live on the east side! That's where the new stuff is as many say. Yes, it's true I am in a newer home. Still it is my opinion that old or new we must do diligence in maintaining what we have and that means repairing and fixing as needed. It is also my opinion that they skimped on building these homes and they are now in that stage of realizing they should have put more money on the front side so you wouldn't have to put so much money on the backside.What I do know is we pay rent and for the amount we are paying we should not have a sandy floor in our bathroom...nor a crackly tub, but that's a different day. 

Suffice to say that the same reason the grout is cracking is the same reason I have a crackly tub. The builder did not use proper flooring materials. I suspect that if they ever decide to pull up the tile they will not find cement backerboard, which should be there. No I suspect the tile was laid right down on the sub-flooring. Which is not a good plan, hence the cracking of the grout...backerboard should have been affixed to the floor with a thin layer of thinset and then the tile should be laid on top of that. Yeah, my dad was a builder and a I did learn a thing or two along the way :) I also know what fascia boards are too; I know you are totally impressed now!

Enough, I gots to finish cleaning my house, girl's are coming over tonight,it's Moscato Monday!

Hmmmm, it's been quite a week!

I am behind in my blogging...that's what a week's worth of company will do to you :) It's all good though and we enjoyed all the guests!

It was a lot of fun to have the Littles here. Of course they were accompanied by GiGi and G-Pa along with Aunt Turtle and Uncle Jimmie. They got to splash and swim, look at lots of planes, play on our stairs, eat catfish (which they LOVE), see the coolest diorama's ever and just enjoy being Tourist on an adventure of their new surroundings! They even got to see an alligator...which was tops on their "to do" list!

 

 Getting inside Miss Liberty!

 This was huge for them!

Splashing downtown...they had sooooo much fun!

 

 The downtown murals up close and personal...really magnificent!

These two murals are the largest public murals in the nation. Known as the Once in a Millennium Moon Murals they are full of  symbolism. Looking at them is almost overwhelming due to all the embedded meaning depicted. Their detail is amazing as well. I have seen them from afar as we travel the highway that gives a good view numerous times but going to see them up close was WOW!

 Who knew an Elvis statue in Shreveport! Aunt Turtle was all about seeing that :)

 Checking out the diorama's...everyone loved them. They are really spectacular!

In the Barnwell gardens...the goldfish were really cool!

After our touristy about and around the downtown area we stopped in at the ElDorado for a nice buffet lunch. There was something for everyone! I loved the fresh pineapple! Another day we ate at the Blind Tiger. I had heard great things about this restaurant and it did not disappoint. The catfish was really good according to my dad and the Littles. The red beans and rice were tops according to Uncle Jimmie along with the ettouffee. GiGi and Aunt Turtle liked the appetizer platter offerings especially the dipping sauce! My Santa Fe grilled chicken salad hit the spot for me so it was all good!

Later in the afternoon we experienced another REAL RARE TREAT...

 

I know this will be talked about for years to come...what an awesome experience!

I'm so glad they all were able to make the trip, especially my dad. I thought he might bow out, but he didn't! We really put them through the paces trying to getting in as much as we could showing them the base and surrounding area. 

 G-Pa catches a few Zzzz's before dinner!

It was a great week! I was worn out too! But like I said we are gearing up for another crew! Hope your days have some fun adventures in them, if not, start making plans now, summer will be gone before you know it. We are trying to nail down some of our own summer travel plans, it's hard with work and school schedules to de-conflict but we are hoping to get something scheduled soon!

Thankful for New Friends!

Today was the November Girls birthday lunch. What fun we had, the food was good but the conversations and laughs were the bestest! I am glad to be included with such a neat group. We have been many places and served with many faces but these are truly some of the best. The cupcake was awesome yum and I wanted to eat the entire thing but I had one bite! Yeah for me :)

I am thankful for the many friendships we have forged over the years as MiB has worn the blue suit, it's been awesome and we are still in touch with so many of these folks. They are so much more then friends in so many ways; they are family. We are thankful to have been blessed enough to cross paths with such a great group. In retirement, which really isn't that far off, we hope that we can reconnect with others that we have served with. That will be so much fun! We are both looking forward to that!

Happy Tuesday to you and a BIG Happy Birthday shout out to my own father as he celebrates another year...he is 81 today! While he does face some unfun stuff he is blessed to be surrounded by the Littles on a regular basis along with other immediate family in the area and they certainly do him good. The Littles especially provide him with much laughter and stories to share. He is doing okay despite a few areas that he wishes were better, I think for 81 he is doing swell!

Happy Birthday Dad!

Celebration Countdown

We are T-3 days til operation 1930 CLASSIC…

The cakes have been ordered, ice rings are freezing, nuts and mints bought, I think we are as ready as we are going to be. There is a dinner prior to the celebration with a count of 22 attending so far, which is more then I had planned but nice they will be there. Chicken is ordered for that, baked beans will be baked and cheesy taters will me made along with a veggie tray, rolls and chips, it will be simple yet yummy. I like those things best…simple yet yummy!

The whole concept of RSVP always makes me wonder, did we order big enough cakes? Will there be enough punch, nuts, mints? Was that a big enough package of cups? You know all those little details that you try and plan for then second guess yourself so you end up using gold napkins at every family gathering for the next year because you did go overboard and buy waaaaay too many!!! Well, I really tried to be conservative on this, plan for only what I knew, it’s just silly to buy too much, who needs to do that? Not me, not anyone really, but we do, so this time I tried really hard to keep it all in check and not over purchase or plan. After all, there will be someone available to make a Wally world run if we get in trouble on anything and that is my plan to use what we have and send a runner if need be. I’ll let you know how it goes!

Thursday Thoughts...

Thursday...it's a beautiful cooler day here in the great midwest, unbelievably, it is only 66* as I type. I love cool mornings, warm (not HOT) afternoons and cool evenings. However, it has been HOT at all hours since I arrived so this is a wonderful, welcome change!

It has been fun to hook up with our NE friends this week, I am looking forward to making other trips back and seeing others that I missed this time. I think my next trip will be in August to help lil'blue get settled in her place for the fall semester.

Thursday Thoughts:

• Loving fresh Arkansas tomatoes
• All the driving hasn't been so bad
• HLM continues to grow, as I am too...
• Feeling good about the school transfer.
• Spending Father's Day w/my Dad was awesome!
  

Short and sweet today!

Tired Thursday Thoughts!!!!

It was allllll good but tiring! We have had company for the last 11 days and it has been sooooo much fun...

Just to recap we went from a household of 2 to 11 overnight, then we lost one for a couple days, gained that one back plus one and leveled off at 4 for the last 5 days and we are now back to 2. The days were pretty relaxed which I think is what everyone was looking for. And we did make several trips out, saw a bunch of neat stuff and spent some time on the beach, which was the the goal!

I am so glad my dad came down; he flew in from KC by himself, no small feat for a nearly 80 year old! He did great, especially if you know anything about navigating Orlando airport...there is a tram involved! Yesterday we put the last two back on the plane to KC, it was sad to see them go. I am so glad they came.

Today I attended the SMOOTH MOVE briefing. Our move is creeping up pretty quickly and we have to get some dates nailed down for the pack out and all that. I learned a couple things so I am glad I went, I am also thankful that for the most part I do not have that "I've done it so many times, I know it all," attitude. I hope I will continue to stay teachable.

I am tired, it was a late night last night, early morning this morning and another early morning tomorrow. I know the weekend will fly by. We take off on Saturday for the panhandle so really I should be packing but I wanted to get a post in so here we go short and sweet!

Thoughts!

• I love me some "littles"
• Spare bedrooms are awesome!
• I think I gained some poundage :(
• Love the funny memories we made.
• Everyone seemed to love the roasted veggies!!

A couple pictures for your viewing pleasure!

Cape Lighthouse--going UP!

Coming DOWN

"Littles" with their momma at the beach!

Folks at Ron Jon's!

Thursday Thoughts!

I have been useful to our host this past week and it has made me feel really good! I was able to help out with kidlet duty from Thursday afternoon through Monday afternoon. Let me tell you, I think this is pre-grandmother training and they certainly put me through the paces. The girls are 4, 6 and 9, mother was out of town and father was working; need I say more! Thankfully, LilBlue helped out Saturday evening, which enabled us to get through bathtime without much ado. Overall, it was a very uneventful time, I had fun, they had fun!

Secondly, I am in the midst of staining and polyurethaning the trim and four doors in the basement where we are staying. I started by countersinking the nails on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon, and today I have been staining. Tomorrow I will fill the nail holes and then do any sanding necessary, which hopefully will be very little and then move on to the process of polyurethaning. I would like to be totally done before Monday afternoon. Why am I doing this? Well, this gracious family added a bathroom in their basement and while it was finished, the trim and doors got put up without being stained and polyurethaned, so since I do have time on my hands I am helping out and again, it has made me feel very useful, a feeling I like =)

Thursday Thoughts!

• I am a great microwave cook.
• MiB is traveling again this week.
• Radiation is going VERY well...PTL!
• I really, really need to get back to running again!
• We have a venue for the graduation celebration! PTL!

Hmmmm, it is Thursday!

Wowsa, I feel as though I lost this week, it shouldn't be Thursday already, but the calendar says it is, so here we are.

Thursday Thoughts:

• I have the sniffles...
• Radiation x 2 in the books and feeling good.
• Spring still seems to be eluding us here in NE!
• Hot tea is awesome when you have a sore throat
• In less then 30 days my MiB will be here =)

There you have it, thoughts for Thursday, not much as my brain feels a bit foggy from a touch of a cold that started as one really bad sore throat and now has progressed to a sniffling nose. Could be worse so I am not complaining. I would really like to enjoy some sunshine but it seems to be nonexistent for more then a couple hours at a time and then the temperatures do not match the shine, brrrr, we are still no where near what I call spring temps! However, I hate to really complain cause once it warms up it will surely get HOT and I am not a big fan of that either...anywho, have a great day!

Thursday Thoughts!

It's been awhile since I have been here, life has been a bit busy, even when you are homeless life still goes on. We are now into track season, first meet is this afternoon, I am digging out the heavy sweatshirt and a couple blankets the weather is not warm here, but it could be worse, like this weekend we are supposed to get snow =(

Anyway on to the Thursday Thoughts...

• I miss the Man In Blue, period!
• I am so ready to enjoy Spring, where is it?
• Life is too short to worry so much about the little things...
• FB has been amazing; reconnecting me with NHS classmates!
• I am learning about radiation treatments; Papa Smurf starts them soon.

Until I check in again!

the Zoo

Since we have family in town we went to the ZOO...it was a great day for it and we had a fabulous time. A few pictures to share our day with you!

Second mom, Nana, the bud in the backgroung, along w/III, Aunt Shari

the bud, Mal, III, HoseB, second mom, Nana, and Nate

My dad and I and "sister" at the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo

The Littles!

the bud, lil'blue and me!

Thursday Thoughts

Well, here it is Thursday again...

I am glad to be safely back home.
My dad's surgery went well, results were not as good as hoped for.
We have an offer on our house-it is way low.
To recover in this economy no matter any offer will be a challenge.
I am trusting in God to continue to take care of us.

Thank you for your prayers and thoughts; please continue to remember us as we decide how to proceed with this offer on our home. I am too tired tonight to really wade through the details, but will be at it first thing in the morning as we put together a counter and conditions to go with it. Stay tuned...

ARGhhhh....

And it's only Tuesday, I don't think this week can come to a close quick enough...yesterday, WAS a true Monday for me...you know the kind, the ones when nothing seems to go right in your world. That was my day, so now onto Tuesday, and I feel as though I am having another Monday, I really want this to end...

Yesterday we lowered the price of our house, no worries, we are just going to lose even more $ and we have come to terms with that, we know that God will provide somehow and we will recover. I will say I have shed more then a few tears in the past 24 hours.

Today, my vehicle's check engine light came on, but thankfully, the dealership had the sensor part in stock and I am roadworthy again; I even have new transmission fluid in my car as well. I know it doesn't seem like much, but I need to be in KC tomorrow morning for my dad's surgery so having car issues today at 2:00 p.m. just caused a little more anxiety in my already somewhat stressed world. I am also very thankful the sensor was an under warranty fix! The transmission fluid change part was our dime, but well worth it I am sure. I also saw God's hand in this, because I would not have wanted this to happen on the road tomorrow so today was the best day for it to happen, God's timing, impeccable!

Blink and he's gone

It was a great week w/MiB and we celebrated LilBlue's birthday all weekend, we enjoyed just being together and did lots of hanging out. I think, well, I know, we did a lot of eating too, way too much really but it was all good, especially that blueberry cheesecake and shrimp scampi! Anyway, it was a week that passed way to quickly for me, he was here and gone before we knew it. Hopefully, the next trip will not be too far off. It was nice that my "honey do" list was completed, but I am already starting another one for his next visit =) We have had many separations with our military lifestyle and the goodbyes never get any easier...

Waiting to go eat!

At Red Lobster, waiting for our food. I think they were on the receiving end of some unwanted father talk...but they endulged him, afterall, they were a captive audience at this point.

The Bud doesn't do seafood, but she tried anyway...he went with chicken tenders and mozzarella sticks, while the rest of us had various forms of shrimp.

Papa Smurf update: another surgery has been scheduled for 4 Feb in KC, MO. Once he has recovered from this latest surgery, the radiation treatments begin, 5 days a week for 6 weeks. He is feeling better then he has in quite some time and enjoying the littles.

Thursday Thoughts

Well, here we are still hemmed in with brisk weather and more on the way, in fact we are getting our third winter storm this evening and it's NOT even winter yet...go figure, seems to reason it would be this way when I am manless :)

Onto the thoughts...

• I ran 4 miles yesterday
• I seriously need to get wrapping
• I have no use for brussel sprouts
• I am ready to be with the family for Christmas break
• I am sporting 5 extra pounds since Turkey Day and I didn't even eat the turkey :(

I truly envision having a fabulous evening while "the storm" hits and then anticipate the roads being travel worthy tomorrow so we can head on down to MO for Christmas. I think we are ready to go but if the weather is not good we will wait a few days and head out on Monday when the next break in weather is supposed to be. Internet is not so readily available while I am there so updates will be in short supply.

Oh, and the latest on Papa Smurf is that hormone therapy continues, possibly another surgery in January and also radiation should start in January. He will go 5 days a week for 6 weeks. He is feeling good, though still weak and not able to be as active as he was, his strength has just not returned like he would like and he plays out pretty quickly. We are thankful he is doing as well as he is! I know that prayers are sustaining not only him but all of us in his world!

Missouri Weekend

Happy Birthday Dad!

We road tripped to MO this weekend to celebrate my dad's 78th birthday! We enjoyed one of his favorite meals of steak fingers, mashed potatoes w/milk gravy, corn and yeast rolls, then we dug into a fabulous selection of birthday treats ranging from German chocolate cake to brownies to angel food cake with or without ice cream! It was a another great family gathering!

After the partying the girls bluetoothed with the help of Bryan...

And without the help of Bryan!

On our way home today we were able to stop in Kansas to visit with a dear family friend who will be celebrating his 95th birthday on Wednesday; it was a most precious visit in which we laughed and cried throughout the afternoon.

Papa Smurf update

My dad went back to the doctor yesterday and while they removed the catheter and that was good, what ended up happening was he learned to cath himself. This will be the drill for a while until hopefully things will clear up and work on their own. This is a forward movement in that he is no longer cathed 24/7. He will only cath himself four or so times a day for short periods...again, hopefully, things will progress to work on their own and he will be able to wean off the cathing to void on his own in a short time.

Regarding the treatment for the cancer it has not been nailed down and personally I find this is frustrating...but I am trying to not be, and remind myself we are taking this one day at a time. And right now, for today, he needs to void on his own and that is what we are working on.

Thanks for your continued prayers, emails and words of encouragement!

Updates...

Before the surgery...we loved the "blue shoes" they made us think of Papa Smurf!

16 October-Thursday-the surgery went as well as it could, but the results were not as good as we had hoped for. A very long night with little to no rest in the hospital.

17 October-Friday-Removal of catheter and waiting for over 8 hours for him to void with no success. Recathed him and allowed to go home with a scheduled appointment to see the doctor on Tuesday, 21 October.

21 October-Tuesday-doctor appointment with biopsy results confirming the prostate cancer-it is a more aggressive type then originally thought. At this point the doctor feels the lymph nodes are clear but it is unclear as to other areas, i.e. bone, nearby tissue. The catheter is removed and we are hopeful that things will now work. The doctor is concentrating on getting him to the point he can void on his own. Right now the treatment of the prostate cancer itself is on hold as they address the issue of being unable to void without the catheter. Treatment options will be discussed next Tuesday, 28 October.

22 October, back to the ER to be recathed...voiding on his own was not successful.

There are so many other details...suffice to say, it is an uncertain journey ahead, God is in control, of this we are certain. There have been laughs, tears, more laughs and more tears and I am sure there will be more tears and laughs to come. Some of the days ahead will without a doubt be a struggle and we will face them head on. Our faith is strong and we trust in the one who holds the future and we know that our future is eternity.

The dreaded "C" word...

It is with a very heavy heart that I prepare to travel to St Joseph's hospital in KCMO tomorrow for my dad to have prostate surgery...it is not good. We received the "news" yesterday evening and they scheduled the surgery for in the morning. I have to say that when this all broke loose 26 September, I had "that feeling" yesterday's visit to the specialist confirmed what I suspected, prostate cancer.

The verse John 12:28 was in my devotional this a.m.

“Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came out of heaven: “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.”

It was comforting to know that regardless we will glorify His name to the best of our ability...even in crisis and we know He will sustain us. The road ahead is uncertain and appears bumpy but it is already a comfort to know I will not walk it alone.

Updates will be coming as I am able while away from home.